tass--2020-06-27--Russian citizen Sergey Medvedev pleads guilty to cybercrimes in US

WASHINGTON , June 27 .
/TASS/ .
Russian citizen Sergey Medvedev pleaded guilty to committing cybercrimes as part of a @ @ @ @ @ Department of Justice said in a statement on Friday .
`` Sergey Medvedev , aka @ @ @ @ @ segmed , '' `` serjbear , '' 33 , of the Russian Federation , pleaded @ @ @ @ @ Judge James C. Mahan in the District of Nevada , '' the US Department of @ @ @ @ @ of the leaders of the Infraud Organization pleaded guilty today to RICO conspiracy , '' @ @ @ @ @ Infraud was an Internet-based cybercriminal enterprise engaged in the large-scale acquisition , sale , and @ @ @ @ @ compromised debit and credit cards , personally identifiable information , financial and banking information , @ @ @ @ @ contraband . ''
According to US officials , the organization inflicted approximately $ 2.2 billion @ @ @ @ @ more than $ 568 million in actual losses , on financial institutions , merchants , @ @ @ @

WASHINGTON, June 27. /TASS/. Russian citizen Sergey Medvedev pleaded guilty to committing cybercrimes as part of a criminal group, the US Department of Justice said in a statement on Friday.
"Sergey Medvedev, aka "Stells," "segmed," "serjbear," 33, of the Russian Federation, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge James C. Mahan in the District of Nevada," the US Department of Justice said.
"One of the leaders of the Infraud Organization pleaded guilty today to RICO conspiracy," the statement says. "Infraud was an Internet-based cybercriminal enterprise engaged in the large-scale acquisition, sale, and dissemination of stolen identities, compromised debit and credit cards, personally identifiable information, financial and banking information, computer malware, and other contraband."
According to US officials, the organization inflicted approximately $2.2 billion in intended losses, and more than $568 million in actual losses, on financial institutions, merchants, and private individuals.


tass--2020-06-27--No violations reported on second day of constitutional amendments vote in Moscow

MOSCOW , June 26 .
/TASS/ .
No violations were reported on the second day of voting on amendments to the Russian constitution in Moscow , a deputy chairman of the Moscow City Election Commission , Dmitry Reut , has told TASS .
`` There were no incidents that deserve attention .
The voting in Moscow is taking place in normal regime , in a calm atmosphere , '' he said .
The nationwide vote to amend the Russian Constitution started on June 25 in all regions of Russia .
The primary day to vote according to the decree of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but Russians can also cast their ballots during the week of June 25 to June 30 .
According to the directive of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation , the polls will be open from June 25 to July 1 from 8 am to 8 pm local time in all Russian regions , the vote count will take place after 8 pm local time on July 1 for all seven days of voting .
In addition to voting before the primary date ( June 25-30 ) , constituents can also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including outdoor areas ) , use contactless voting at home , or remote electronic voting in Moscow and the Nizhny Novgorod region , as well cast ballots at one ’ s place of residence using the Mobile Voter application .

MOSCOW, June 26. /TASS/. No violations were reported on the second day of voting on amendments to the Russian constitution in Moscow, a deputy chairman of the Moscow City Election Commission, Dmitry Reut, has told TASS.
"There were no incidents that deserve attention. The voting in Moscow is taking place in normal regime, in a calm atmosphere," he said.
The nationwide vote to amend the Russian Constitution started on June 25 in all regions of Russia. The primary day to vote according to the decree of Russian President Vladimir Putin is July 1, but Russians can also cast their ballots during the week of June 25 to June 30. According to the directive of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation, the polls will be open from June 25 to July 1 from 8 am to 8 pm local time in all Russian regions, the vote count will take place after 8 pm local time on July 1 for all seven days of voting.
In addition to voting before the primary date (June 25-30), constituents can also cast ballots outside of polling stations (including outdoor areas), use contactless voting at home, or remote electronic voting in Moscow and the Nizhny Novgorod region, as well cast ballots at one’s place of residence using the Mobile Voter application.


tass--2020-06-27--French president’s office describes Macron’s conversation with Putin as profound

PARIS , June 27 .
/TASS/ .
Friday ’ s conversation between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron , held via a video linkup , was profound and meaningful , the French leader ’ s administration said .
`` The profound and meaningful exchange of opinions allowed to continue the dialogue on confidence-building and security , launched during the Russian president ’ s visit to France one year ago , '' the Elysee Palace said in a statement .
`` Macron stressed his commitment to this dialogue , which became particularly important due to the pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state welcomed the work , launched within the framework of this dialogue , despite difficulties created by the epidemiological situation , '' it said .
`` They noted that a number of working groups was established to achieve concrete results , including on issues of strategic stability and security on the European continent , on sovereignty and arms control . ''
The two presidents also agreed to continue their effort aimed at `` convoking a summit of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council in order to enhance the unity and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Macron and Putin also `` agreed to preserve the positive dynamics in cooperation and to boost in the domains of healthcare , environmental protection , biodiversity and culture . ''
`` The leaders of Russia and France confirmed their commitment to the dialogue between the civil societies , '' the Elysee Palace said .

PARIS, June 27. /TASS/. Friday’s conversation between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron, held via a video linkup, was profound and meaningful, the French leader’s administration said.
"The profound and meaningful exchange of opinions allowed to continue the dialogue on confidence-building and security, launched during the Russian president’s visit to France one year ago," the Elysee Palace said in a statement. "Macron stressed his commitment to this dialogue, which became particularly important due to the pandemic."
"The two heads of state welcomed the work, launched within the framework of this dialogue, despite difficulties created by the epidemiological situation," it said. "They noted that a number of working groups was established to achieve concrete results, including on issues of strategic stability and security on the European continent, on sovereignty and arms control."
The two presidents also agreed to continue their effort aimed at "convoking a summit of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council in order to enhance the unity and cohesion within this body of global importance."
Macron and Putin also "agreed to preserve the positive dynamics in cooperation and to boost in the domains of healthcare, environmental protection, biodiversity and culture."
"The leaders of Russia and France confirmed their commitment to the dialogue between the civil societies," the Elysee Palace said.


tass--2020-06-27--67 Russian regions to reopen for domestic tourists on July 1 — agency

MOSCOW , June 26 .
/TASS/ .
Russia ’ s 67 regions are ready to reopen for tourists on July 1 , Zarina Doguzova , the head of Russia ’ s Federal Tourism Agency ( Rosturizm ) , told reporters on Friday .
`` Next week , on July 1 , we will be launching tourism in 67 regions of the Russian Federation , '' she said adding that the restrictions obstructing holiday travel for Russians would be gradually lifted throughout the next week .
`` We proceed from that fact that over the first week of July , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of our country ’ s regions , '' she added .
Earlier , Doguzona said that the summer tourist season could start in most Russian regions on July 1 , while hotels , health resorts and other accommodation facilities would reopen in 40 Russian regions this week .
Russia ’ s river cruises will open on June 28 .
In late December 2019 , Chinese officials notified the World Health Organization ( WHO ) about the outbreak of a previously unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan , in central China .
Since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ - 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 9,724,100 people have been infected worldwide and more than 492,000 deaths have been reported .
In addition , so far , over 5,260,700 individuals have recovered from the illness across the globe .
To date , 620,794 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Russia , with 384,152 patients having recovered from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ data indicates 8,781 fatalities nationwide .
Earlier , the Russian government set up an Internet hotline to keep the public updated on the coronavirus situation .

MOSCOW, June 26. /TASS/. Russia’s 67 regions are ready to reopen for tourists on July 1, Zarina Doguzova, the head of Russia’s Federal Tourism Agency (Rosturizm), told reporters on Friday.
"Next week, on July 1, we will be launching tourism in 67 regions of the Russian Federation," she said adding that the restrictions obstructing holiday travel for Russians would be gradually lifted throughout the next week.
"We proceed from that fact that over the first week of July, the holiday season starts in the overwhelming majority of our country’s regions," she added.
Earlier, Doguzona said that the summer tourist season could start in most Russian regions on July 1, while hotels, health resorts and other accommodation facilities would reopen in 40 Russian regions this week. Russia’s river cruises will open on June 28.
In late December 2019, Chinese officials notified 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 9,724,100 people have been infected worldwide and more than 492,000 deaths have been reported. In addition, so far, over 5,260,700 individuals have recovered from the illness across the globe.
To date, 620,794 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Russia, with 384,152 patients having recovered from the disease. Russia’s latest data indicates 8,781 fatalities nationwide. Earlier, the Russian government set up an Internet hotline to keep the public updated on the coronavirus situation.


tass--2020-06-27--Macron calls for implementation of road map approved by Normandy Four summit in Paris

PARIS , June 26 .
/TASS/ .
French President Emmanuel Macron called for the implementation of agreements approved at the Paris summit of the Normandy Four group ( comprising Russia , France , Germany and Ukraine ) in December 2019 , the Elysee Palace said on Friday after Macron ’ s talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin through a video call .
`` As for Ukraine , France ’ s president emphasized the importance of speedy implementation of the roadmap agreed at the Paris summit in the Normandy Four format on December 9 , 2019 , '' the French president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president `` is concerned about the humanitarian situation in Syria aggravated due to the pandemic , '' the president ’ s office said .
Macron `` thinks it important to preserve cross-border mechanisms under the UN auspices to meet the needs of civilian population , '' the French presidential office added .
A Normandy Four summit was held in Paris on December 9 , 2019 for the first time after a three-year break .
Presidents Vladimir Putin of Russia , Emmanuel Macron of Germany , Vladimir Zelensky of Ukraine and German Chancellor Angela @ @ @ @ @ @ @ discuss ways of settling the conflict in Donbass .
The seven-hour talks yielded a final document emphasizing that the Minsk accords remain the basis for Normandy Four talks .
Among the other results of the summit was an agreement to exchange prisoners-of-war in Donbass .
The summit ’ s participants also called for a total and comprehensive ceasefire and agreed to support an accord within the framework of the Contact Group on the political settlement in eastern Ukraine on three additional sections of disengaging forces and weapons in the conflict area .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agreed to continue the top-level discussion in the Normandy format in a span of four months and to use this time to make further steps towards political settlement of the conflict in Donbass .

PARIS, June 26. /TASS/. French President Emmanuel Macron called for the implementation of agreements approved at the Paris summit of the Normandy Four group (comprising Russia, France, Germany and Ukraine) in December 2019, the Elysee Palace said on Friday after Macron’s talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin through a video call.
"As for Ukraine, France’s president emphasized the importance of speedy implementation of the roadmap agreed at the Paris summit in the Normandy Four format on December 9, 2019," the French president’s office said.
The French president "is concerned about the humanitarian situation in Syria aggravated due to the pandemic," the president’s office said.
Macron "thinks it important to preserve cross-border mechanisms under the UN auspices to meet the needs of civilian population," the French presidential office added.
A Normandy Four summit was held in Paris on December 9, 2019 for the first time after a three-year break. Presidents Vladimir Putin of Russia, Emmanuel Macron of Germany, Vladimir Zelensky of Ukraine and German Chancellor Angela Merkel gathered in the Elysee Palace to discuss ways of settling the conflict in Donbass.
The seven-hour talks yielded a final document emphasizing that the Minsk accords remain the basis for Normandy Four talks. Among the other results of the summit was an agreement to exchange prisoners-of-war in Donbass. The summit’s participants also called for a total and comprehensive ceasefire and agreed to support an accord within the framework of the Contact Group on the political settlement in eastern Ukraine on three additional sections of disengaging forces and weapons in the conflict area.
And last but not least, the leaders agreed to continue the top-level discussion in the Normandy format in a span of four months and to use this time to make further steps towards political settlement of the conflict in Donbass.


tass--2020-06-27--20 more coronavirus patients die in Moscow in past day — crisis center

MOSCOW , June 26 .
/TASS/ .
Twenty more coronavirus patients died in Moscow during the past day , bringing @ @ @ @ @ 3,714 , the city ’ s anti-coronavirus crisis center said on Friday .
`` Twenty @ @ @ @ @ have died in Moscow , '' it said , adding the overall number of coronavirus-related @ @ @ @ @ 3,714 .
The center once again warned the city dwellers that they should stay at @ @ @ @ @ if they have symptoms of an acute respiratory disease .
As many as 6,800 coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ Russian regions during the past day .
Some 28.5 % of these cases had no @ @ @ @ @ of 176 coronavirus-related deaths were registered across Russia and 8,988 patients recovered .
To date @ @ @ @ @ been confirmed in Russia , with 384,152 patients having recovered from the disease .
Russia @ @ @ @ @ 8,781 fatalities nationwide .
Earlier , the Russian government set up an Internet hotline to @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus situation .

MOSCOW, June 26. /TASS/. Twenty more coronavirus patients died in Moscow during the past day, bringing the death toll up to 3,714, the city’s anti-coronavirus crisis center said on Friday.
"Twenty coronavirus-positive patients diagnosed with pneumonia have died in Moscow," it said, adding the overall number of coronavirus-related deaths in Moscow has reached 3,714.
The center once again warned the city dwellers that they should stay at home and call a doctor if they have symptoms of an acute respiratory disease.
As many as 6,800 coronavirus cases were confirmed in 85 Russian regions during the past day. Some 28.5% of these cases had no clinical symptoms. A total of 176 coronavirus-related deaths were registered across Russia and 8,988 patients recovered.
Moscow has 218,604 coronavirus cases.
To date, 620,794 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Russia, with 384,152 patients having recovered from the disease. Russia’s latest data indicates 8,781 fatalities nationwide. Earlier, the Russian government set up an Internet hotline to keep the public updated on the coronavirus situation.


tass--2020-06-27--Russia’s only female cosmonaut expected to make spaceflight in autumn of 2022

MOSCOW , June 26 .
/TASS/ .
Anna Kikina , Russia ’ s only woman cosmonaut , may make her @ @ @ @ @ two years , Oleg Kononenko , chief of Russia ’ s cosmonaut corps , said @ @ @ @ @ nothing changes , if everything goes smoothly , because we have many if ’ s @ @ @ @ @ in the autumn of 2022 , along with me , '' he said in an @ @ @ @ @ on TV Channel One .
Last time a Russian woman cosmonaut make a spaceflight was @ @ @ @ @ when Elena Serova spent 167 days on a space mission to become Russia ’ s @ @ @ @ @ Space Station and the fourth woman in space in the history of manned spaceflights in @ @ @ @ @ Russia .
One more Russian woman , Elena Kondakova , made a spaceflight onboard a @ @ @ @ @ 1997 .
Anna Kikina was admitted to the Russian cosmonaut corps in 2012 .

MOSCOW, June 26. /TASS/. Anna Kikina, Russia’s only woman cosmonaut, may make her spaceflight in a span of two years, Oleg Kononenko, chief of Russia’s cosmonaut corps, said on Friday.
"If nothing changes, if everything goes smoothly, because we have many if’s, Anna will probably fly in the autumn of 2022, along with me," he said in an interview with Vecherny Urgant program on TV Channel One.
Last time a Russian woman cosmonaut make a spaceflight was in September 2014-March 2015, when Elena Serova spent 167 days on a space mission to become Russia’s first woman in the International Space Station and the fourth woman in space in the history of manned spaceflights in the former Soviet Union and Russia. One more Russian woman, Elena Kondakova, made a spaceflight onboard a US Atlantis Space Shuttle in 1997.
Anna Kikina was admitted to the Russian cosmonaut corps in 2012.


tass--2020-06-27--Guterres: UN Charter remains humanity’s touchstone for a world scarred by war, inequality

UNITED NATIONS , June 26 .
/TASS/ .
The United Nations Organization ’ s founding Charter signed 75 years ago remains the touchstone of humanity for the world mired in a pandemic , torn by discrimination , poverty , inequality and war and endangered by climate change , UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said in a statement on Friday .
`` I send my warmest greetings to ‘ we the peoples ’ .
Those first three words of our founding Charter , adopted 75 years ago today , give the United Nations its vision and its mission , '' he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people — and we work as one for the benefit of all . ''
The UN Secretary General pointed out that the 75th anniversary of the Charter is being marked `` as global pressures are spiraling up . ''
`` The Charter brought rules and hope to a world in ruins , '' Guterres recalled .
`` It remains our touchstone for a world mired in a pandemic , torn by discrimination , endangered by climate change and scarred by poverty , inequality and war . ''
He said with confidence that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who themselves had lived through a global pandemic , depression and war , `` seized their opportunity to plant the seeds of something better and new . ''
`` Today , we must do the same .
To achieve that watershed moment , we need to reimagine multilateralism , give it teeth to function as the founders intended , and ensure that effective global governance is a reality when it is needed , '' he concluded .

UNITED NATIONS, June 26. /TASS/. The United Nations Organization’s founding Charter signed 75 years ago remains the touchstone of humanity for the world mired in a pandemic, torn by discrimination, poverty, inequality and war and endangered by climate change, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said in a statement on Friday.
"I send my warmest greetings to ‘we the peoples’. Those first three words of our founding Charter, adopted 75 years ago today, give the United Nations its vision and its mission," he said. "We exist to serve people — and we work as one for the benefit of all."
The UN Secretary General pointed out that the 75th anniversary of the Charter is being marked "as global pressures are spiraling up."
"The Charter brought rules and hope to a world in ruins," Guterres recalled. "It remains our touchstone for a world mired in a pandemic, torn by discrimination, endangered by climate change and scarred by poverty, inequality and war."
He said with confidence that the delegates in San Francisco in 1945, who themselves had lived through a global pandemic, depression and war, "seized their opportunity to plant the seeds of something better and new."
"Today, we must do the same. To achieve that watershed moment, we need to reimagine multilateralism, give it teeth to function as the founders intended, and ensure that effective global governance is a reality when it is needed," he concluded.


tass--2020-06-27--About 70 mln vaccine doses needed to develop herd immunity to COVID in Russia — expert

MOSCOW , June 26 .
/TASS/ .
About 70 million doses of anti-coronavirus vaccine will be needed in Russia to @ @ @ @ @ Maksyutov , director of the Vektor State Research Cente for Virology and Biotechnologies , said @ @ @ @ @ will calculate the number of vaccine doses needed to inoculate the minimal number of people @ @ @ @ @ .
According to our estimates , around 70 million vaccine doses will be needed , @ @ @ @ @ interview with the Vesti news program on the Rossiya-1 television channel .
Maksyurov said earlier @ @ @ @ @ finish pre-clinical trials of an anti-coronavirus vaccine in June and planned to begin tests on @ @ @ @ @

MOSCOW, June 26. /TASS/. About 70 million doses of anti-coronavirus vaccine will be needed in Russia to develop herd immunity, Rinat Maksyutov, director of the Vektor State Research Cente for Virology and Biotechnologies, said on Friday.
"We will calculate the number of vaccine doses needed to inoculate the minimal number of people to develop lasting herd immunity. According to our estimates, around 70 million vaccine doses will be needed," he said in an interview with the Vesti news program on the Rossiya-1 television channel.
Maksyurov said earlier that the Vektor Center would finish pre-clinical trials of an anti-coronavirus vaccine in June and planned to begin tests on volunteers from July 15.


tass--2020-06-27--Number of COVID-2019 cases across globe up by over 177,000 in past day - WHO

GENEVA , June 26 .
/TASS/ .
More than 177,000 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection were registered worldwide on June 26 , with the overall number of such cases exceeding 9.47 million , the World Health Organization ( WHO ) said in its daily bulletin on Friday .
As of 11:00 Moscow time on June 26 , as many as 9,473,214 novel coronavirus cases and 484,249 coronavirus-associated deaths were registered across the globe .
The number of confirmed cases grew by 177,012 in the past 24 hours and the number of fatalities increased by 5,116 .
The WHO @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the countries .
South and North America accounts for the majority of confirmed coronavirus cases - 4,709,927 .
In the past 24 hours , the number of cases grew by 105,793 and the number of deaths - by 3,463 and reached 233,628 .
The number confirmed COVID-2019 cases in Europe amounts to 2,619,753 and the number of fatalities is 195,535 .
In the past 24 hours , the number of cases grew by 19,163 and the number of deaths - by 563 .
The East Mediterranean region has 987,534 cases and 22,464 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the past 24 hours , the number of cases grew by 17,878 and the number of deaths - by 461 .
The biggest number of coronavirus cases was reported from the United States ( 2,367,064 ) , Brazil ( 1,188,631 ) , Russia ( 620,794 ) , India ( 490,401 ) , the United Kingdom ( 307,984 ) , Peru ( 264,689 ) , Chile ( 259,064 ) , Spain ( 247,486 ) , Italy ( 239,706 ) , and Iran ( 215,096 ) .
A pneumonia outbreak caused by the COVID-19 virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported in China ’ s city of Wuhan , a large trade and industrial center with a population of 12 million , in late December 2019 .
Since then , cases of the new coronavirus have been reported from nearly all parts of the world .
On March 11 , 2020 , the World Health Organization ( WHO ) declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic .

GENEVA, June 26. /TASS/. More than 177,000 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection were registered worldwide on June 26, with the overall number of such cases exceeding 9.47 million, the World Health Organization (WHO) said in its daily bulletin on Friday.
As of 11:00 Moscow time on June 26, as many as 9,473,214 novel coronavirus cases and 484,249 coronavirus-associated deaths were registered across the globe. The number of confirmed cases grew by 177,012 in the past 24 hours and the number of fatalities increased by 5,116.
The WHO statistics is based on officially confirmed data from the countries.
South and North America accounts for the majority of confirmed coronavirus cases - 4,709,927. In the past 24 hours, the number of cases grew by 105,793 and the number of deaths - by 3,463 and reached 233,628.
The number confirmed COVID-2019 cases in Europe amounts to 2,619,753 and the number of fatalities is 195,535. In the past 24 hours, the number of cases grew by 19,163 and the number of deaths - by 563.
The East Mediterranean region has 987,534 cases and 22,464 fatalities as of June 26. In the past 24 hours, the number of cases grew by 17,878 and the number of deaths - by 461.
The biggest number of coronavirus cases was reported from the United States (2,367,064), Brazil (1,188,631), Russia (620,794), India (490,401), the United Kingdom (307,984), Peru (264,689), Chile (259,064), Spain (247,486), Italy (239,706), and Iran (215,096).
A pneumonia outbreak caused by the COVID-19 virus (previously known as 2019-nCoV) was reported in China’s city of Wuhan, a large trade and industrial center with a population of 12 million, in late December 2019. Since then, cases of the new coronavirus have been reported from nearly all parts of the world. On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic.


tass--2020-06-27--Russia’s Su-30 jet scrambles to intercept US spy plane over neutral waters of Black Sea

MOSCOW , June 26 .
/TASS/ .
A Russian fighter jet Sukhoi Su-30 of the Black Sea Fleet ’ s naval air force was scrambled to intercept US reconnaissance aircraft in international airspace over the Black Sea , the Russian Defense Ministry said on Friday .
`` On June 26 , the units on duty of the Southern Military District ’ s air defense timely detected the actions of US Air Force ’ s reconnaissance aircraft over neutral waters of the Black Sea and a Russian fighter jet escorted them .
A Su-30 fighter jet of the Black Sea Fleet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Southern Military District ’ s units on duty was scrambled to intercept the targets in midair , '' the defense ministry said .
According to the Russian Defense Ministry , the Su-30 crew identified the spy planes as the R-8A Poseidon , the US Navy ’ s maritime patrol aircraft , the RC-135 reconnaissance aircraft and KC-135 , the US Air Force ’ s aerial refueling aircraft , which immediately diverted their flight away from the Russian border .
`` The Russian combat aircraft performed the sortie in strict compliance with the international @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Defense Ministry stressed .
The ministry added that having accomplished the mission , the Russian jet returned to its home air base .
Apart from that , the Defense Ministry added , Russian radars were continuously tracking the flight route of the US spy planes at a considerable distance from the Russian borders .

MOSCOW, June 26. /TASS/. A Russian fighter jet Sukhoi Su-30 of the Black Sea Fleet’s naval air force was scrambled to intercept US reconnaissance aircraft in international airspace over the Black Sea, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Friday.
"On June 26, the units on duty of the Southern Military District’s air defense timely detected the actions of US Air Force’s reconnaissance aircraft over neutral waters of the Black Sea and a Russian fighter jet escorted them. A Su-30 fighter jet of the Black Sea Fleet’s maritime air group from the Southern Military District’s units on duty was scrambled to intercept the targets in midair," the defense ministry said.
According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the Su-30 crew identified the spy planes as the R-8A Poseidon, the US Navy’s maritime patrol aircraft, the RC-135 reconnaissance aircraft and KC-135, the US Air Force’s aerial refueling aircraft, which immediately diverted their flight away from the Russian border.
"The Russian combat aircraft performed the sortie in strict compliance with the international rules of using the airspace," the Defense Ministry stressed.
The ministry added that having accomplished the mission, the Russian jet returned to its home air base.
Apart from that, the Defense Ministry added, Russian radars were continuously tracking the flight route of the US spy planes at a considerable distance from the Russian borders.


tass--2020-06-26--Putin, Macron discuss global challenges, anti-COVID efforts, Libya, Syria, Ukraine

MOSCOW , June 26 .
/TASS/ .
Combating the coronavirus infection and other global challenges , the development of bilateral relations , as well as settlement of conflicts in Libya , Syria and Ukraine were among the topics discussed by Presidents Vladimir Putin of Russia and Emmanuel Macron of France during their talks , the Kremlin press service said on Friday .
According to the press service , the two leaders `` has a lengthy conversation '' in the videoconference format .
`` A pressing task is to consolidate efforts to combat the coronavirus infection and overcome its impacts , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other global challenges addressed during the talks were international terrorism , climate change and `` growing conflict potential in many regions across the globe . ''
`` Vladimir Putin and Emmanuel Macron noted that as permanent members of the United Nations Security Council Russia and France have special responsibility for maintaining international peace and security , '' the press service said .
`` In this context , major significance is given to the implementation of Russia ’ s initiative to call a summit of the heads of state of the permanent members of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The two presidents analyzed various aspects of the situation in the sphere of strategic stability .
`` It was stressed that it is important to preserve mechanisms of arms control and building predictability and trust in the military sphere , '' the press service said .
`` The sides agreed to invigorate joint efforts on this dossier in the 2+2 format involving the countries ’ defense and foreign ministers . ''
The leaders continued to exchange views on ways to forge a new architecture of European security .
`` The sides agreed a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on these and other topics between the corresponding agencies , '' the Kremlin said .
Other topics included current issues of Russian-French cooperation , `` including with a focus on cooperation on the climate-change agenda , Arctic problems and peaceful use of nuclear energy , it added .
Apart from that , according to the Kremlin press service , Macron accepted Putin ’ s invitation to pay an official visit to Russia .
The two president also exchanged view on regional crises .
`` Concerning the Ukrainian conflict , the sides expressed concern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ implementation of key provisions of the 2015 Minsk agreements and the resolutions adopted by the Normandy-format summits , including the one in Paris on December 9 , 2019 .
The Russian side stressed that Ukraine must implement its commitments under political aspects of the settlement effort .
It also stressed that there is no alternative to direct dialogue between Kiev , Donetsk and Lugansk , '' the press service said .
Putin and Macron also voiced concern over ongoing hostilities in Libya .
The presidents spoke `` in favor immediate cessation of hostilities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for consolidated international efforts to settle the crisis by political and diplomatic means , '' the Kremlin said .
The Russian leader informed his French counterpart about Russia ’ s efforts to normalize the situation in Syria ’ s de-escalation zone .
`` Both sides share the principled position on the necessity of further uncompromised fight on terrorism and steps towards improving the humanitarian situation in Syria , '' the press service said .

MOSCOW, June 26. /TASS/. Combating the coronavirus infection and other global challenges, the development of bilateral relations, as well as settlement of conflicts in Libya, Syria and Ukraine were among the topics discussed by Presidents Vladimir Putin of Russia and Emmanuel Macron of France during their talks, the Kremlin press service said on Friday.
According to the press service, the two leaders "has a lengthy conversation" in the videoconference format.
"A pressing task is to consolidate efforts to combat the coronavirus infection and overcome its impacts," the Kremlin said, adding that other global challenges addressed during the talks were international terrorism, climate change and "growing conflict potential in many regions across the globe."
"Vladimir Putin and Emmanuel Macron noted that as permanent members of the United Nations Security Council Russia and France have special responsibility for maintaining international peace and security," the press service said. "In this context, major significance is given to the implementation of Russia’s initiative to call a summit of the heads of state of the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council."
The two presidents analyzed various aspects of the situation in the sphere of strategic stability. "It was stressed that it is important to preserve mechanisms of arms control and building predictability and trust in the military sphere," the press service said. "The sides agreed to invigorate joint efforts on this dossier in the 2+2 format involving the countries’ defense and foreign ministers."
The leaders continued to exchange views on ways to forge a new architecture of European security. "The sides agreed a list of key areas of Russian-French dialogue on these and other topics between the corresponding agencies," the Kremlin said.
Other topics included current issues of Russian-French cooperation, "including with a focus on cooperation on the climate-change agenda, Arctic problems and peaceful use of nuclear energy, it added.
Apart from that, according to the Kremlin press service, Macron accepted Putin’s invitation to pay an official visit to Russia.
Regional problems
The two president also exchanged view on regional crises. "Concerning the Ukrainian conflict, the sides expressed concern over the lack of progress in the implementation of key provisions of the 2015 Minsk agreements and the resolutions adopted by the Normandy-format summits, including the one in Paris on December 9, 2019. The Russian side stressed that Ukraine must implement its commitments under political aspects of the settlement effort. It also stressed that there is no alternative to direct dialogue between Kiev, Donetsk and Lugansk," the press service said.
Putin and Macron also voiced concern over ongoing hostilities in Libya. The presidents spoke "in favor immediate cessation of hostilities and resumption of intra-Libyan dialogue and called for consolidated international efforts to settle the crisis by political and diplomatic means," the Kremlin said.
The Russian leader informed his French counterpart about Russia’s efforts to normalize the situation in Syria’s de-escalation zone. "Both sides share the principled position on the necessity of further uncompromised fight on terrorism and steps towards improving the humanitarian situation in Syria," the press service said.


tass--2020-06-26--Number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Belarus nearing 61,000

MINSK , June 26 .
/TASS/ .
As many as 331 more novel coronavirus cases were confirmed in Belarus in the past day , with the overall number of such cases rising to 60,713 .
The daily death toll was six , the country ’ health ministry reported on Monday .
`` As many as 60,713 people have tested positive for COVID-19 .
A total of 367 coronavirus patients with a number of chronic diseases have died since the epidemic outbreak , '' it said .
According to the latest update , as many as 42,689 coronavirus patients have recovered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 939,524 coronavirus tests have been conducted , including 20,385 in the past day .
The percent of positive tests is 1.6 .
Specialists say that a country is managing to contain the pandemic when this figure is under 3 .
Belarus did not impose any coronavirus lockdowns but in early April the country ’ s government set the rules for self-isolation when it was necessary and imposed fines and liabilities , up to criminal , for violators .
Belarus ’ authorities have not bound people to wear face masks either but local authorities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regions take additional restrictive measures .
The World Health Organization ( WHO ) insistently recommended that the Belarusian authorities enhance social distancing and prohibit mass events .
Nonetheless , Belarus held a large-scale military parade in Minsk on May 9 to mark the 75th anniversary of the Soviet Union ’ s Victory over Nazi Germany in the 1941-1945 Great Patriotic War .
Currently , a presidential campaign is underway in the republic , with the elections scheduled for August 9 .
The country ’ s health ministry however does not exclude a possible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the public health system will be more prepared for it .
Meanwhile , Belarus has outstripped Spain in terms of the number of newly confirmed coronavirus cases to become Europe ’ s second among countries with a population of more than 100,000 .

MINSK, June 26. /TASS/. As many as 331 more novel coronavirus cases were confirmed in Belarus in the past day, with the overall number of such cases rising to 60,713. The daily death toll was six, the country’ health ministry reported on Monday.
"As many as 60,713 people have tested positive for COVID-19. A total of 367 coronavirus patients with a number of chronic diseases have died since the epidemic outbreak," it said.
According to the latest update, as many as 42,689 coronavirus patients have recovered from the disease. A total of 939,524 coronavirus tests have been conducted, including 20,385 in the past day. The percent of positive tests is 1.6. Specialists say that a country is managing to contain the pandemic when this figure is under 3.
Belarus did not impose any coronavirus lockdowns but in early April the country’s government set the rules for self-isolation when it was necessary and imposed fines and liabilities, up to criminal, for violators. Belarus’ authorities have not bound people to wear face masks either but local authorities in a number of Belarusian cities and regions take additional restrictive measures.
The World Health Organization (WHO) insistently recommended that the Belarusian authorities enhance social distancing and prohibit mass events. Nonetheless, Belarus held a large-scale military parade in Minsk on May 9 to mark the 75th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s Victory over Nazi Germany in the 1941-1945 Great Patriotic War. Currently, a presidential campaign is underway in the republic, with the elections scheduled for August 9.
The country’s health ministry however does not exclude a possible second wave of the epidemic but hopes the public health system will be more prepared for it.
Meanwhile, Belarus has outstripped Spain in terms of the number of newly confirmed coronavirus cases to become Europe’s second among countries with a population of more than 100,000.


tass--2020-06-26--Russian corporations donate 1.8bln rubles to people in need during pandemic, says Putin

NOVO-OGARYOVO , June 26 .
/TASS/ .
Russia ’ s largest corporations have collected 1.8 billion rubles during the pandemic @ @ @ @ @ Russian President Vladimir Putin said during a video conference with participants of the Russian nationwide @ @ @ @ @ ’ on Friday .
`` Volunteering initiatives were actively backed by national businesses - both @ @ @ @ @ private and state-run corporations .
In my opinion , they collected 1.8 billion rubles , @ @ @ @ @ to the president , volunteers , NGOs and the business community `` showed a visible @ @ @ @ @ maturity and solidarity . ''

NOVO-OGARYOVO, June 26. /TASS/. Russia’s largest corporations have collected 1.8 billion rubles during the pandemic for people in need, Russian President Vladimir Putin said during a video conference with participants of the Russian nationwide campaign ‘We are together’ on Friday.
"Volunteering initiatives were actively backed by national businesses - both small companies and the largest private and state-run corporations. In my opinion, they collected 1.8 billion rubles," he said.
According to the president, volunteers, NGOs and the business community "showed a visible example of civic responsibility, maturity and solidarity."


tass--2020-06-26--Paris stands for European cooperation from Lisbon to Vladivostok, Macron says

PARIS , June 26 .
/TASS/ .
France stands for the development of European cooperation from Lisbon to Vladivostok , French President Emmanuel Macron said on Friday during videoconference talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin .
`` The crisis we are living through and other regional crises demonstrate the importance of European space in a broader sense of the words , from Lisbon to Vladivostok , '' he said .
`` It is a real space of cooperation and peace .
We understand the importance of it and the challenges were are facing . ''
He recalled that the talks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 75th anniversary of the signing of the United Nations Charter .
The French leader noted that this document had been signed for the purposes of `` strengthening unity of nations . ''
`` It strengthens our project of uniting the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council , '' Macron said .
`` I would like to suggest we continue the work on the agenda we outlined during our meeting in Fort de Bregancon [ in August 2019 ] , and you have recalled it . ''
He outlined the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the task is to create concrete conditions for dialogue , bilateral and multilateral , in the area of security .
It is also necessary to have an agenda on settling crises , in particular , the situation in Libya , Ukraine , and Syria .
And third , it is cooperation in the spehers of public health , economic and environment protection , '' Macron said .
`` Environment protection is very important ad you have said that .
`` .

PARIS, June 26. /TASS/. France stands for the development of European cooperation from Lisbon to Vladivostok, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Friday during videoconference talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
"The crisis we are living through and other regional crises demonstrate the importance of European space in a broader sense of the words, from Lisbon to Vladivostok," he said. "It is a real space of cooperation and peace. We understand the importance of it and the challenges were are facing."
He recalled that the talks were being held on the day of the 75th anniversary of the signing of the United Nations Charter. The French leader noted that this document had been signed for the purposes of "strengthening unity of nations." "It strengthens our project of uniting the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council," Macron said. "I would like to suggest we continue the work on the agenda we outlined during our meeting in Fort de Bregancon [in August 2019], and you have recalled it."
He outlined the major tasks. "First of all, the task is to create concrete conditions for dialogue, bilateral and multilateral, in the area of security. It is also necessary to have an agenda on settling crises, in particular, the situation in Libya, Ukraine, and Syria. And third, it is cooperation in the spehers of public health, economic and environment protection," Macron said. "Environment protection is very important ad you have said that.".


tass--2020-06-26--Putin thanks Kyrgyz president for visit to Moscow for WWII victory celebrations

MOSCOW , June 26 .
/TASS/ .
The presidents of Russia and Kyrgyzstan , Vladimir Putin and Sooronbay Jeenbekov , discussed pressing issues , including the efforts aimed at beating the coronavirus , in a phone call requested by the Kyrgyz side , the Kremlin said in a statement on Friday .
Putin thanked Jeenbekov for the June 24 visit to Moscow to mark the 75th anniversary of the Soviet Union ’ s victory in World War Two .
`` [ The two presidents ] discussed some pressing bilateral issues .
They confirmed their shared intention to promote the Russian-Kyrgyz @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the fight against the coronavirus pandemic .
Vladimir Putin thanked Sooronbay Jeenbekov for his visit to Moscow for celebrations marking the 75th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War and for the participation of service members from Kyrgyzstan in the parade on Red Square , '' the Kremlin ’ s statement says .
The two presidents agreed to continue contacts .
It was reported earlier that having arrived in Moscow , Kyrgyzstan ’ s president had to refuse from attending the celebrations marking the 75th anniversary of victory in World War @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had tested positive for the coronavirus .
Coming back to Bishkek , Jeenbekov tested negative for the virus .
In late December 2019 , Chinese officials notified 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , over 9,724,100 people have been infected worldwide and more than 492,000 deaths have been reported .
In addition , so far , over 5,260,700 individuals have recovered from the illness across the globe .

MOSCOW, June 26. /TASS/. The presidents of Russia and Kyrgyzstan, Vladimir Putin and Sooronbay Jeenbekov, discussed pressing issues, including the efforts aimed at beating the coronavirus, in a phone call requested by the Kyrgyz side, the Kremlin said in a statement on Friday.
Putin thanked Jeenbekov for the June 24 visit to Moscow to mark the 75th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory in World War Two.
"[The two presidents] discussed some pressing bilateral issues. They confirmed their shared intention to promote the Russian-Kyrgyz cooperation in various fields, including in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. Vladimir Putin thanked Sooronbay Jeenbekov for his visit to Moscow for celebrations marking the 75th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War and for the participation of service members from Kyrgyzstan in the parade on Red Square," the Kremlin’s statement says.
The two presidents agreed to continue contacts.
It was reported earlier that having arrived in Moscow, Kyrgyzstan’s president had to refuse from attending the celebrations marking the 75th anniversary of victory in World War Two after two members of his delegation had tested positive for the coronavirus. Coming back to Bishkek, Jeenbekov tested negative for the virus.
In late December 2019, Chinese officials notified 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 9,724,100 people have been infected worldwide and more than 492,000 deaths have been reported. In addition, so far, over 5,260,700 individuals have recovered from the illness across the globe.


tass--2020-06-26--France pays tribute to memory of Soviet people who died during WWII, says Macron

PARIS , June 26 .
/TASS/ .
France pays tribute to the memory of 27 million Soviet people who died during World War II , French President Emmanuel Macron said on Friday during videoconference talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin .
He noted that the talks `` are held at a very important moment when ceremonies of celebrating the victory over Nazism were held . ''
`` As I have already written to you and want to repeat it once again that France pays tribute to the memory of the sacrifices the Soviet Union made during World War II , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Macron stressed .
`` And we want to pay tribute to the memory of Eastern European nations that also suffered great losses during those hard times in history . ''
The French leader stressed that it was necessary to `` preserve the historic memory . ''
`` We must remember all historic wounds , '' he said .
`` And great nations must do this work . ''
Countries , in his words , `` must remember it in a long-term perspective . ''
`` This is what we did when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ launched a new agenda , buildup of trust and security between us , '' he added .

PARIS, June 26. /TASS/. France pays tribute to the memory of 27 million Soviet people who died during World War II, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Friday during videoconference talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
He noted that the talks "are held at a very important moment when ceremonies of celebrating the victory over Nazism were held." "As I have already written to you and want to repeat it once again that France pays tribute to the memory of the sacrifices the Soviet Union made during World War II, i.e. 27 million soldiers and civilians," Macron stressed. "And we want to pay tribute to the memory of Eastern European nations that also suffered great losses during those hard times in history."
The French leader stressed that it was necessary to "preserve the historic memory." "We must remember all historic wounds," he said. "And great nations must do this work." Countries, in his words, "must remember it in a long-term perspective."
"This is what we did when we met in Fort de Bregancon and launched a new agenda, buildup of trust and security between us," he added.


tass--2020-06-26--Macron tells Putin France with Russians in the face of pandemic

PARIS , June 26 .
/TASS/ .
France stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the people of Russia who are grappling with the @ @ @ @ @ new coronavirus , French President Emmanuel Macron said in a video call with Russian President @ @ @ @ @ `` For me , this conversation is a chance to , first of all , @ @ @ @ @ behalf of France to the people of Russia , who have been suffering from severe @ @ @ @ @ - sanitary , economic and social ones , '' he said .
`` We would @ @ @ @ @ solidarity , '' the French leader added noting that the spread of coronavirus had halted @ @ @ @ @ Putin in Moscow on May 9 .

PARIS, June 26. /TASS/. France stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the people of Russia who are grappling with the fallout of the spread of new coronavirus, French President Emmanuel Macron said in a video call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday.
"For me, this conversation is a chance to, first of all, to offer total support on behalf of France to the people of Russia, who have been suffering from severe implications of the global pandemic - sanitary, economic and social ones," he said.
"We would like to offer our absolute solidarity," the French leader added noting that the spread of coronavirus had halted his plans to meet with Putin in Moscow on May 9.


tass--2020-06-26--Putin confirms his invitation to Macron to visit Russia

NOVO-OGARYOVO , June 26 .
/TASS/ .
Russian President Vladimir Putin has confirmed an invitation to his French counterpart , @ @ @ @ @ a full-format visit to Russia .
`` I would like to confirm once again my @ @ @ @ @ , to you , my dear friend , to pay a full-format visit to Russia @ @ @ @ @ online talks .
The French leader thanked his Russian counterpart for the invitation ad said @ @ @ @ @ take this opportunity . ''
`` If the epidemic situation is favorable , I would @ @ @ @ @ invitation and come to Russia on an official visit at the end of this summer @ @ @ @ @ He said he wanted to come to Russia at Putin ’ s invitation to celebrate @ @ @ @ @ cancel these plans because of the coronavirus pandemic .
Putin , in turn , said @ @ @ @ @ see Macron in Russia .
`` I would be glad to see you .
You @ @ @ @ @ added .

NOVO-OGARYOVO, June 26. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has confirmed an invitation to his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, to pay a full-format visit to Russia.
"I would like to confirm once again my invitation to the French president, to you, my dear friend, to pay a full-format visit to Russia," Putin said during online talks.
The French leader thanked his Russian counterpart for the invitation ad said he "would like to take this opportunity." "If the epidemic situation is favorable, I would like to avail myself your invitation and come to Russia on an official visit at the end of this summer," Macron said.
He said he wanted to come to Russia at Putin’s invitation to celebrate Victory Day but had to cancel these plans because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Putin, in turn, said he would be glad to see Macron in Russia. "I would be glad to see you. You are welcome," he added.


tass--2020-06-26--Russia will never forget French people who fought against Nazis, Putin says

NOVO-OGARYOVO , June 26 .
/TASS/ .
Russia will always remember those French nationals who side by side with soldiers @ @ @ @ @ fighting against Nazis on the eastern flank , Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a @ @ @ @ @ Emmanuel Macron on Friday .
`` We in Russia will never forget those French people @ @ @ @ @ soldiers , together with Soviet soldiers , on the eastern flank , '' Putin said @ @ @ @ @ about the Normandie-Nieman Regiment and other units , and recalled that thousands of Soviet people @ @ @ @ @ the French Resistance during World War Two .

NOVO-OGARYOVO, June 26. /TASS/. Russia will always remember those French nationals who side by side with soldiers of the Red Army were fighting against Nazis on the eastern flank, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a video call with French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday.
"We in Russia will never forget those French people who were fighting alongside our soldiers, together with Soviet soldiers, on the eastern flank," Putin said adding that he was talking about the Normandie-Nieman Regiment and other units, and recalled that thousands of Soviet people fought in the ranks of the French Resistance during World War Two.


tass--2020-06-26--Roscosmos says Baikonur spaceport operates in normal mode despite pandemic

MOSCOW , June 26 .
/TASS/ .
The Baikonur spaceport in Kazakhstan , which Russia uses for space launches , is operating in the normal mode despite the coronavirus spread and tighter restrictions introduced in the nearby town of the same name , Russia ’ s State Space Corporation Roscosmos told TASS on Friday .
`` The Baikonur Cosmodrome will continue its operation in the normal mode , taking into account all preventive measures , '' the Roscosmos press office said .
The auto transport that delivers the staff to the spaceport undergoes disinfection twice a day and the spaceport @ @ @ @ @ @ @ launch pad control rooms and technical compounds undergo regular sanitary treatment and specialists have sanitizers , Roscosmos said .
`` Only certified means are used for disinfection , '' the press office stressed .
The medical staff are on duty during the day and sound alerts are heard several times a day about the need of preventive measures and the required information is available on special stands and monitors , it said .
The administration of the town of Baikonur earlier announced introducing tight restrictions over the coronavirus spread .
In particular , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ town and the stay in the streets was restricted from 06:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m .
The new restrictions will come into effect on June 27 .
Together with the measures taken earlier , they will stay in effect until July 5 .
As of June 26 , coronavirus cases registered in the town of Baikonur reached 143 and 60 people are undergoing medical treatment at hospitals .
As many as 28 people were discharged from the hospitals after their recovery .
On June 18 , the first fatality was reported among coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
At that time , 56 coronavirus cases were identified in the town .

MOSCOW, June 26. /TASS/. The Baikonur spaceport in Kazakhstan, which Russia uses for space launches, is operating in the normal mode despite the coronavirus spread and tighter restrictions introduced in the nearby town of the same name, Russia’s State Space Corporation Roscosmos told TASS on Friday.
"The Baikonur Cosmodrome will continue its operation in the normal mode, taking into account all preventive measures," the Roscosmos press office said.
The auto transport that delivers the staff to the spaceport undergoes disinfection twice a day and the spaceport’s administrative buildings, premises, launch pad control rooms and technical compounds undergo regular sanitary treatment and specialists have sanitizers, Roscosmos said.
"Only certified means are used for disinfection," the press office stressed.
The medical staff are on duty during the day and sound alerts are heard several times a day about the need of preventive measures and the required information is available on special stands and monitors, it said.
The administration of the town of Baikonur earlier announced introducing tight restrictions over the coronavirus spread. In particular, the lockdown regime was reintroduced in the town and the stay in the streets was restricted from 06:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. The new restrictions will come into effect on June 27. Together with the measures taken earlier, they will stay in effect until July 5.
As of June 26, coronavirus cases registered in the town of Baikonur reached 143 and 60 people are undergoing medical treatment at hospitals. As many as 28 people were discharged from the hospitals after their recovery.
On June 18, the first fatality was reported among coronavirus infected people in the town of Baikonur. At that time, 56 coronavirus cases were identified in the town.


tass--2020-06-26--US court sentences Russian Alexei Burkov to nine years for hacking

WASHINGTON , June 26 .
/TASS/ .
A US court has sentenced Russian citizen Alexei Burkov to nine years in jail for hacking .
Last week the prosecution requested a 15-year term for Burkov , while the defense insisted on no more than seven years .
Burkov pled guilty on two counts .
He will spend 108 months in a penitentiary near Alexandria .
His lawyer kept quiet when asked if the defense would protest the sentence .
An appeal can be filed within ten days .
Burkov in January concluded a plea bargain with the US law enforcers and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , money laundering and hacking .
Originally , he faced a maximum prison term of 15 years .
He signed the plea bargain on January 23 .
Burkov was detained in Israel on December 13 , 2015 at a US request and charged with fraud , collusion , theft of personal data and money laundering .
His extradition to the US followed on November 11 , 2019 .
According to the prosecution Burkov in 2009-2013 ran the website Cardplanet that was selling the stolen numbers of credit cards , many of them belonging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to have been an accomplice to the theft of data of 150,000 cards and fraudulent purchases more than $ 20 million worth .
Also , the prosecution believes that Burkov organized a forum that served as a club where cybercriminals could advertise the stolen assets , such as personal data , as well as computer malware and criminal services - money laundering and hacking .
At first Burkov pled not guilty , but before trial by jury he agreed to cooperate with the investigation and acknowledged some charges .

WASHINGTON, June 26. /TASS/. A US court has sentenced Russian citizen Alexei Burkov to nine years in jail for hacking.
Last week the prosecution requested a 15-year term for Burkov, while the defense insisted on no more than seven years.
Burkov pled guilty on two counts. He will spend 108 months in a penitentiary near Alexandria. His lawyer kept quiet when asked if the defense would protest the sentence. An appeal can be filed within ten days.
Burkov case
Burkov in January concluded a plea bargain with the US law enforcers and pled guilty to theft of personal data, money laundering and hacking. Originally, he faced a maximum prison term of 15 years. He signed the plea bargain on January 23.
Burkov was detained in Israel on December 13, 2015 at a US request and charged with fraud, collusion, theft of personal data and money laundering. His extradition to the US followed on November 11, 2019. According to the prosecution Burkov in 2009-2013 ran the website Cardplanet that was selling the stolen numbers of credit cards, many of them belonging to US citizens. He is said to have been an accomplice to the theft of data of 150,000 cards and fraudulent purchases more than $20 million worth. Also, the prosecution believes that Burkov organized a forum that served as a club where cybercriminals could advertise the stolen assets, such as personal data, as well as computer malware and criminal services - money laundering and hacking.
At first Burkov pled not guilty, but before trial by jury he agreed to cooperate with the investigation and acknowledged some charges.


tass--2020-06-26--Russia, US need to rebuild trust, says Russian senior diplomat

MOSCOW , June 26 .
/TASS/ .
Russian-US relations are living through a difficult period and the two countries need to rebuild mutual trust , Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said in an interview with TASS First Deputy Director General Mikhail Gusman on Friday .
`` As for further steps , we should rebuild trust .
We should accumulate positive impulses and energy via joint efforts , via cooperation , via practical interaction to be able to set more meaningful tasks .
Now , to be frank , we have zero trust .
Regrettably , we are suffering numerous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ living through quite a difficult period , '' he said , adding that the most appropriate tactics in such conditions would a `` tactic of small steps . ''
`` Let us work on the agenda that can not be distorted and transformed into breaking-news headlines by those who is not interested in the normalization of Russian-US relations , who doesn ’ t want to see this factor as beneficial for international relations .
Later on , if we manage to do it , I think we will be able , directed by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of our predecessors , to build something new and worthy that would be on a par with the joint Soyuz-Apollo spaceflight , '' Ryabkov stressed .
Touching on the June 24 Victory Parade in Moscow , the senior Russian diplomat emphasized that historic memory was still alive and it could not be erased .
However , in his words , foreign colleagues keep on trying to distort historical facts .
`` Our overseas colleagues did not keep out of politicizing the holy memory about who made the biggest contribution to the Great Victory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hoped the joint statement by Russian and US Presidents , Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump , on the 75th anniversary of the meeting of the Soviet and US troops on the Elbe River would be a tuning fork in the countries ’ approaches to the history of World War II and its heroic heritage .
`` We will cherish it , '' he pledged .

MOSCOW, June 26. /TASS/. Russian-US relations are living through a difficult period and the two countries need to rebuild mutual trust, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said in an interview with TASS First Deputy Director General Mikhail Gusman on Friday.
"As for further steps, we should rebuild trust. We should accumulate positive impulses and energy via joint efforts, via cooperation, via practical interaction to be able to set more meaningful tasks. Now, to be frank, we have zero trust. Regrettably, we are suffering numerous stresses in our relations. We are living through quite a difficult period," he said, adding that the most appropriate tactics in such conditions would a "tactic of small steps."
"Let us work on the agenda that cannot be distorted and transformed into breaking-news headlines by those who is not interested in the normalization of Russian-US relations, who doesn’t want to see this factor as beneficial for international relations. Later on, if we manage to do it, I think we will be able, directed by the leaders and relying on the experience of our predecessors, to build something new and worthy that would be on a par with the joint Soyuz-Apollo spaceflight," Ryabkov stressed.
Touching on the June 24 Victory Parade in Moscow, the senior Russian diplomat emphasized that historic memory was still alive and it could not be erased. However, in his words, foreign colleagues keep on trying to distort historical facts. "Our overseas colleagues did not keep out of politicizing the holy memory about who made the biggest contribution to the Great Victory," he said, adding he hoped the joint statement by Russian and US Presidents, Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump, on the 75th anniversary of the meeting of the Soviet and US troops on the Elbe River would be a tuning fork in the countries’ approaches to the history of World War II and its heroic heritage. "We will cherish it," he pledged.


tass--2020-06-26--Putin tells Macron problem of terrorism is common agenda for Moscow and Paris

NOVO-OGARYOVO , June 26 .
/TASS/ .
The problem of terrorism and the destruction of the arms control system is a common agenda for Moscow and Paris , Russian President Vladimir Putin told his French counterpart , Emmanuel Macron , during videoconference talks .
`` Our old problems that are to be addresses through joint efforts are still in place , regrettably .
They include terrorism , uncontrolled migration , climate change , pandemics in a broader sense of the word , not necessarily linked with the coronavirus infections , but with infections in general , as well as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pieces , '' Putin said .
According to the Russian leader , it is a common agenda for the two countries .
`` I think that today we will discuss everything I have just mentioned this or that way , and , of course , we will speak about the growth of the explosive potential in hotbeds of tension .
We will probably speak about the problems of Ukraine and the Balkans , about the situation in Syria and Libya , '' Putin said , adding that he knew that these problems were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He stressed that on this day , June 26 , 75 years ago the United Nations Charter was signed .
`` It is a reminder that consolidated efforts in combating common problems and common challenges are always topical .
If we want to achieve positive results , we must join our efforts , '' the Russian president stressed , adding he knew about Macron ’ s intention to organize joint work on these problems .
He promised to support these proposals and expressed confidence that today ’ s videoconference would be useful @ @

NOVO-OGARYOVO, June 26. /TASS/. The problem of terrorism and the destruction of the arms control system is a common agenda for Moscow and Paris, Russian President Vladimir Putin told his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, during videoconference talks.
"Our old problems that are to be addresses through joint efforts are still in place, regrettably. They include terrorism, uncontrolled migration, climate change, pandemics in a broader sense of the word, not necessarily linked with the coronavirus infections, but with infections in general, as well as the arms control system that is going to pieces," Putin said.
According to the Russian leader, it is a common agenda for the two countries. "I think that today we will discuss everything I have just mentioned this or that way, and, of course, we will speak about the growth of the explosive potential in hotbeds of tension. We will probably speak about the problems of Ukraine and the Balkans, about the situation in Syria and Libya," Putin said, adding that he knew that these problems were in focus of attention of his vis-·-vis.
He stressed that on this day, June 26, 75 years ago the United Nations Charter was signed. "It is a reminder that consolidated efforts in combating common problems and common challenges are always topical. If we want to achieve positive results, we must join our efforts," the Russian president stressed, adding he knew about Macron’s intention to organize joint work on these problems. He promised to support these proposals and expressed confidence that today’s videoconference would be useful too.


tass--2020-06-26--Russia will never interfere in US elections, senior diplomat says

MOSCOW , June 26 .
/TASS/ .
The United States should realize that Russia has never interfered and will never @ @ @ @ @ , Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said in an interview with TASS First Deputy @ @ @ @ @ Friday .
`` We again and again reiterate to our counterparts that we have never @ @ @ @ @ and will never meddle in their domestic affairs from any deflection or angle .
They @ @ @ @ @ a fact , '' he said .
US security services have been accusing Russia of @ @ @ @ @ process in 2016 .
Former US Special Counsel Robert Mueller was investigating those alleged attempts @ @ @ @ @ In particular , he was digging into a supposed collusion between Russian authorities and Donald @ @ @ @ @ office of US president .
In the end , Mueller acknowledged that there had been @ @ @ @ @ rejected suspicions of any wrongful contacts with Russian officials in the election campaign .
Moscow @ @ @ @ @ of interference in the US election .

MOSCOW, June 26. /TASS/. The United States should realize that Russia has never interfered and will never interfere in any US elections, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said in an interview with TASS First Deputy Director General Mikhail Gusman on Friday.
"We again and again reiterate to our counterparts that we have never meddled, do not meddle and will never meddle in their domestic affairs from any deflection or angle. They should eventually accept that as a fact," he said.
US security services have been accusing Russia of interfering in the US electoral process in 2016. Former US Special Counsel Robert Mueller was investigating those alleged attempts for almost two years. In particular, he was digging into a supposed collusion between Russian authorities and Donald Trump who later assumed the office of US president. In the end, Mueller acknowledged that there had been no collusion. Trump repeatedly rejected suspicions of any wrongful contacts with Russian officials in the election campaign. Moscow has also repeatedly denied allegations of interference in the US election.


tass--2020-06-26--Russian hi-tech firm to upgrade Mi-24 attack helicopter to latest-generation gunship

KAZAN , June 26 .
/TASS/ .
Russia ’ s Radio-Electronic Technologies Group ( KRET , within the state hi-tech corporation Rostec ) is carrying out work to upgrade the Mil Mi-24 attack helicopter to the level of the latest-generation Mi-28NM gunship , CEO of Rychag Company ( part of KRET ) Alexei Panin said on Friday .
`` A defensive aids suite unrivaled both in Russia and in the world is mounted on the helicopter .
It is being developed by the company Stella-K and allows shielding the helicopter from the most advanced weapons , as well as conducting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chief executive said .
`` The advanced radio-electronic equipment installed on the Mi-24 makes it possible to achieve combat efficiency comparable with the latest-generation helicopters at a far less cost compared with the purchases of new helicopters , '' he said .
After its upgrade , the Mi-24 will feature the latest onboard equipment developed by KRET enterprises .
The pilots ’ cabin will be made using the ‘ glass cockpit ’ principle .
It will be outfitted with the most advanced piloting equipment to provide for a possibility to operate the gunship @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and at low altitudes , using digital mapping based on visual and instrument flight principles .
Also , the helicopter ’ s lighting equipment has been adapted for using night vision goggles .
The latest weapon control system will allow increasing the gunship ’ s firepower and providing for the long-range employment of guided missile armament .
The range of missile armament has been considerably expanded .

KAZAN, June 26. /TASS/. Russia’s Radio-Electronic Technologies Group (KRET, within the state hi-tech corporation Rostec) is carrying out work to upgrade the Mil Mi-24 attack helicopter to the level of the latest-generation Mi-28NM gunship, CEO of Rychag Company (part of KRET) Alexei Panin said on Friday.
"A defensive aids suite unrivaled both in Russia and in the world is mounted on the helicopter. It is being developed by the company Stella-K and allows shielding the helicopter from the most advanced weapons, as well as conducting radio-technical reconnaissance and jamming," the chief executive said.
"The advanced radio-electronic equipment installed on the Mi-24 makes it possible to achieve combat efficiency comparable with the latest-generation helicopters at a far less cost compared with the purchases of new helicopters," he said.
After its upgrade, the Mi-24 will feature the latest onboard equipment developed by KRET enterprises. The pilots’ cabin will be made using the ‘glass cockpit’ principle. It will be outfitted with the most advanced piloting equipment to provide for a possibility to operate the gunship day and night in any weather conditions and at low altitudes, using digital mapping based on visual and instrument flight principles.
Also, the helicopter’s lighting equipment has been adapted for using night vision goggles.
The latest weapon control system will allow increasing the gunship’s firepower and providing for the long-range employment of guided missile armament. The range of missile armament has been considerably expanded.


tass--2020-06-26--Hacker attack on Russian election website launched from US, UK, EU, and Ukraine

MOSCOW , June 26 .
/TASS/ .
Deputy Chairman of the Russian Central Election Commission ( CEC ) Nikolai Bulaev reported that according to preliminary data , a massive hacking attack on the CEC website on Friday was carried out from the territories of the United States , the United Kingdon , Ukraine , and a number of other countries .
`` Starting at 12:30 pm the website of the Russian Central Election Commission has been subjected to a massive hacking attack which reaches 240,000 requests per second .
A preliminary analysis indicates that the geography of the attackers is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ US , the UK and other European countries , Ukraine and some CIS states , '' the official told TASS on Friday .
Earlier the deputy chairman reported that he received information about the hacking attack on the commission ’ s website , now the web portal is functioning as usual .
The nationwide vote to amend the Russian Constitution started on June 25 in all regions of Russia .
The primary day to vote according to the decree of Russian President Vladimir Putin is July 1 , but Russians can also cast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 25 to June 30 .
According to the directive of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation , the polls will be open from June 25 to July 1 from 8 am to 8 pm local time in all Russian regions , the vote count will take place after 8 pm local time on July 1 for all seven days of voting .
In addition to voting before the primary date ( June 25-30 ) , constituents can also cast ballots outside of polling stations ( including outdoor areas ) , use @ @ @ @ @ @ @ electronic voting in Moscow and the Nizhny Novgorod region , as well cast ballots at one ’ s place of residence using the Mobile Voter application .

MOSCOW, June 26. /TASS/. Deputy Chairman of the Russian Central Election Commission (CEC) Nikolai Bulaev reported that according to preliminary data, a massive hacking attack on the CEC website on Friday was carried out from the territories of the United States, the United Kingdon, Ukraine, and a number of other countries.
"Starting at 12:30 pm the website of the Russian Central Election Commission has been subjected to a massive hacking attack which reaches 240,000 requests per second. A preliminary analysis indicates that the geography of the attackers is distributed by the following countries: the US, the UK and other European countries, Ukraine and some CIS states," the official told TASS on Friday.
Earlier the deputy chairman reported that he received information about the hacking attack on the commission’s website, now the web portal is functioning as usual.
The nationwide vote to amend the Russian Constitution started on June 25 in all regions of Russia. The primary day to vote according to the decree of Russian President Vladimir Putin is July 1, but Russians can also cast their ballots during the week of June 25 to June 30. According to the directive of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation, the polls will be open from June 25 to July 1 from 8 am to 8 pm local time in all Russian regions, the vote count will take place after 8 pm local time on July 1 for all seven days of voting.
In addition to voting before the primary date (June 25-30), constituents can also cast ballots outside of polling stations (including outdoor areas), use contactless voting at home, or remote electronic voting in Moscow and the Nizhny Novgorod region, as well cast ballots at one’s place of residence using the Mobile Voter application.


tass--2020-06-26--Bolton’s memoir may be stepping stone to discuss openness in policy making, says expert

MOSCOW , June 26 .
/TASS/ .
A book by Trump ’ s ex-National Security Advisor John Bolton is an important reason to discuss the degree of openness in the process of political decisions .
This opinion was conveyed to TASS by Oleg Barabanov , MGIMO professor and Program Director of the Valdai International Discussion Club on Friday .
As the analyst noted , Bolton ’ s memoir reinforced the issue of political openness and the establishment simply has to react .
`` John Bolton in this context is hardly calling for open diplomacy and foreign policy decisions .
Bolton @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his decision , for instance , on the US withdrawing from a nuclear deal with Iran through open civil consultations .
He only talks about closed political decisions post factum on a fresh track .
But this was enough to make his publication a global information bomb . ''
In his opinion , the book by Trump ’ s ex-advisor becomes good material to discuss the issues of the degree of openness in diplomacy .
`` The closed nature of politics and diplomacy is one topic for discussion . ''
Another topic inspired @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the cynicism of politics and diplomacy . ''
The expert noted that the material submitted by Bolton does not represent anything absolutely new as far as the analysis of the White House decision-making process goes .
Thus , journalist Bob Woodward in his book Fear : Trump in the White House emphasized the same thing and stressed `` the same chaos and unpredictability in Trump ’ s political kitchen . ''
`` And Bolton , not in specific details , but in his general style and tonality , did not say anything new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Woodward built his whole book on quoting unnamed anonymous sources and , accordingly , posed a dilemma for the reader to believe or not to believe in everything written , then Bolton speaks in the first person , and even if he does not possess the merit that would lead one to believe in him , it is necessary to accept his opinions and judgments as direct source , rather than a retelling of anecdotal evidence from anonymous sources , '' the expert pointed out .
The professor thinks that the fact that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of publication immediately ended up freely available on the Internet is particularly nuanced .
`` There is an ethical irony that Bolton , who revealed the details of many confidential diplomatic negotiations , himself was the victim of `` freedom-loving hackers '' and experienced the same absolutely libertarian approach to freedom of information that he himself cynically used in relation to others , '' the expert continued .
`` If Bolton makes less money from this endeavor , then this is a significant asymmetric response to his own actions .
Libertarian ethics in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we agree that the destruction of diplomatic confidentiality and the destruction of intellectual property are actually caused by the same phenomenon : the real global demand for freedom of information , '' the expert concluded .
Bolton ’ s book The Room Where It Happened : A White House Memoir came out on Tuesday .
Earlier , the US Department of Justice sought to block the publication of Bolton ’ s book by filing a lawsuit .
The US government claims that the ex-White House official violated his confidentiality agreement by disclosing state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his National Security Advisor in March 2018 and 18 months later , the US president asked him to resign .

MOSCOW, June 26. /TASS/. A book by Trump’s ex-National Security Advisor John Bolton is an important reason to discuss the degree of openness in the process of political decisions. This opinion was conveyed to TASS by Oleg Barabanov, MGIMO professor and Program Director of the Valdai International Discussion Club on Friday.
As the analyst noted, Bolton’s memoir reinforced the issue of political openness and the establishment simply has to react. "John Bolton in this context is hardly calling for open diplomacy and foreign policy decisions. Bolton is unlikely to be ready to make his decision, for instance, on the US withdrawing from a nuclear deal with Iran through open civil consultations. He only talks about closed political decisions post factum on a fresh track. But this was enough to make his publication a global information bomb."
In his opinion, the book by Trump’s ex-advisor becomes good material to discuss the issues of the degree of openness in diplomacy. "The closed nature of politics and diplomacy is one topic for discussion." Another topic inspired by Bolton’s book is "the cynicism of politics and diplomacy."
Rejection of anonymity
The expert noted that the material submitted by Bolton does not represent anything absolutely new as far as the analysis of the White House decision-making process goes. Thus, journalist Bob Woodward in his book Fear: Trump in the White House emphasized the same thing and stressed "the same chaos and unpredictability in Trump’s political kitchen."
"And Bolton, not in specific details, but in his general style and tonality, did not say anything new in comparison with Woodward. But if Woodward built his whole book on quoting unnamed anonymous sources and, accordingly, posed a dilemma for the reader to believe or not to believe in everything written, then Bolton speaks in the first person, and even if he does not possess the merit that would lead one to believe in him, it is necessary to accept his opinions and judgments as direct source, rather than a retelling of anecdotal evidence from anonymous sources," the expert pointed out.
Libertarian irony
The professor thinks that the fact that Bolton’s memoir at the moment of publication immediately ended up freely available on the Internet is particularly nuanced. "There is an ethical irony that Bolton, who revealed the details of many confidential diplomatic negotiations, himself was the victim of "freedom-loving hackers" and experienced the same absolutely libertarian approach to freedom of information that he himself cynically used in relation to others," the expert continued.
"If Bolton makes less money from this endeavor, then this is a significant asymmetric response to his own actions. Libertarian ethics in all their glory. After all, we agree that the destruction of diplomatic confidentiality and the destruction of intellectual property are actually caused by the same phenomenon: the real global demand for freedom of information," the expert concluded.
About Bolton’s memoir
Bolton’s book The Room Where It Happened: A White House Memoir came out on Tuesday. Earlier, the US Department of Justice sought to block the publication of Bolton’s book by filing a lawsuit. The US government claims that the ex-White House official violated his confidentiality agreement by disclosing state secrets. Trump had picked Bolton as his National Security Advisor in March 2018 and 18 months later, the US president asked him to resign.


tass--2020-06-26--Russia’s priority is to involve UK, France in future nuclear arms control talks — diplomat

MOSCOW , June 26 .
/TASS/ .
Russia thinks it necessary that the United Kingdom and France join the strategic nuclear arms control process as the United States ’ closest NATO allies , Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said in an interview with TASS First Deputy Director General Mikhail Gusman on Friday .
`` As an essential element of our position on the future of nuclear arms control we insist that the United States ’ closest NATO allies possessing nuclear weapons should join these hypothetical talks .
They are France and the United Kingdom , '' he said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ is our priority .
As far as the United States is focusing on the necessity to go beyond the frame of the traditional Russian-US dialogue in this sphere [ insisting that China join it — TASS ] and make it multilateral , our priority is to have the above mentioned states join this process . ''
The senior Russian diplomat recalled that Russia had long been saying that `` after the signing of the current Treaty on Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms and its implementation by Moscow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to think about a multilateral nature of the nuclear arms control process . ''
`` The upper limits set by the Treaty for each of the sides is 1,550 warheads , '' he explained .
`` Further hypothetical reductions in this sphere are possible only if the corresponding arsenals of other countries are duly taken into account in this process .
There are no gaps between any of the elements of our position .
On the contrary , it is a coherent and very logical , long-standing position . ''
According to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the future multilateral process is a `` separate big topic to be discussed . ''
`` Our logic and methodology are applicable to this sphere too , '' he went on to say .
`` We respect positions of the corresponding countries on what they will do in this context .
We understand that these are very serious matters that can not be resolved immediately . ''
`` This is another reason why it would be right to extend the existing New START Treaty after February 5 , 2021 to win time to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ involved in the future talks , what these talks will focus on , how to organize them and more , '' Ryabkov said .
`` It takes time .
It can not be resolved overnight , or even in a month .
It takes much more efforts , both intellectual and political , and sophisticated solutions .
So , let us discuss what is to be done and how it is to be done while the existing treaty stays in place . ''

MOSCOW, June 26. /TASS/. Russia thinks it necessary that the United Kingdom and France join the strategic nuclear arms control process as the United States’ closest NATO allies, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said in an interview with TASS First Deputy Director General Mikhail Gusman on Friday.
"As an essential element of our position on the future of nuclear arms control we insist that the United States’ closest NATO allies possessing nuclear weapons should join these hypothetical talks. They are France and the United Kingdom," he said. "We make no secret that this is our priority. As far as the United States is focusing on the necessity to go beyond the frame of the traditional Russian-US dialogue in this sphere [insisting that China join it — TASS] and make it multilateral, our priority is to have the above mentioned states join this process."
The senior Russian diplomat recalled that Russia had long been saying that "after the signing of the current Treaty on Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms and its implementation by Moscow and Washington, it will be necessary to think about a multilateral nature of the nuclear arms control process."
"The upper limits set by the Treaty for each of the sides is 1,550 warheads," he explained. "Further hypothetical reductions in this sphere are possible only if the corresponding arsenals of other countries are duly taken into account in this process. There are no gaps between any of the elements of our position. On the contrary, it is a coherent and very logical, long-standing position."
According to the Russian senior diplomat, the lineup of the future multilateral process is a "separate big topic to be discussed." "Our logic and methodology are applicable to this sphere too," he went on to say. "We respect positions of the corresponding countries on what they will do in this context. We understand that these are very serious matters that cannot be resolved immediately."
"This is another reason why it would be right to extend the existing New START Treaty after February 5, 2021 to win time to continue the discussion about who will be involved in the future talks, what these talks will focus on, how to organize them and more," Ryabkov said. "It takes time. It cannot be resolved overnight, or even in a month. It takes much more efforts, both intellectual and political, and sophisticated solutions. So, let us discuss what is to be done and how it is to be done while the existing treaty stays in place."


tass--2020-06-26--Russia interested in Trump’s proposal to hold expanded G7 summit, says senior diplomat

On May 30 , the White House announced that Donald Trump had postponed the G7 summit until September , planning to also invite Russia , South Korea , Australia and India to attend the event MOSCOW , June 26 .
/TASS/ .
US President Donald Trump ’ s proposal to hold an expanded G7 summit , involving Russia , Australia , India and South Korea , is of interest to Moscow , Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said in an interview with TASS First Deputy Director General Mikhail Gusman .
`` This is of interest [ to Russia ] @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what was proposed by the US president , '' he said responding to a question about Trump ’ s initiative .
Ryabkov noted that , in general , Russia believed that the G7 format was outdated and did not reflect the balance of forces in the international arena .
According to the senior diplomat , Moscow prioritizes cooperation within the G20 and BRICS .
`` I believe that the G7 as presented by the American side reflects a somewhat one-sided view of problems , if only because China is not among those invited @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
On May 30 , the White House announced that Donald Trump had postponed the G7 summit until September , planning to also invite Russia , South Korea , Australia and India to attend the event .
Canada and the UK have opposed the initiative to expand the G7 by inviting Russia , while South Korea and Australia have accepted the US leader ’ s invitation .

On May 30, the White House announced that Donald Trump had postponed the G7 summit until September, planning to also invite Russia, South Korea, Australia and India to attend the event
MOSCOW, June 26. /TASS/. US President Donald Trump’s proposal to hold an expanded G7 summit, involving Russia, Australia, India and South Korea, is of interest to Moscow, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said in an interview with TASS First Deputy Director General Mikhail Gusman. "This is of interest [to Russia]. Of course, we are studying what was proposed by the US president," he said responding to a question about Trump’s initiative.
Ryabkov noted that, in general, Russia believed that the G7 format was outdated and did not reflect the balance of forces in the international arena. According to the senior diplomat, Moscow prioritizes cooperation within the G20 and BRICS. "I believe that the G7 as presented by the American side reflects a somewhat one-sided view of problems, if only because China is not among those invited to that group," Ryabkov said.
Read also Kremlin says revival of G8 impossible without consensus among G7 nations


tass--2020-06-26--Russia calls on all parties to Yemen conflict to cease fire

MOSCOW , June 26 .
/TASS/ .
The Russian foreign ministry has urged all parties to the conflict in Yemen to agree to and establish a ceasefire , the diplomatic agency said in a statement Friday .
`` Moscow is concerned by reports of escalation of violence in Yemen , '' the ministry noted .
`` We are calling on all parties to the conflict in Yemen to immediately cease all hostilities . ''
The Russian ministry also reaffirmed its principled position on `` the necessity to urgently abandon the power struggle in Yemen and set up an inclusive inter-Yemeni @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will take into account interests of all key political forces as well as religious and regional groups of population of this country . ''
`` We support intensification of mediation efforts to look for political ways out [ of the crisis ] , with their success directly depending on lowering the level of confrontation and tensions in Yemen and around it , '' the ministry added .
The Russian agency also stressed that it intends `` to continue comprehensively facilitate steps undertaken by UN Special Envoy for Yemen Martin Griffiths to establish an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a complex and lasting resolution of numerous issues Yemen is facing now .
`` .

MOSCOW, June 26. /TASS/. The Russian foreign ministry has urged all parties to the conflict in Yemen to agree to and establish a ceasefire, the diplomatic agency said in a statement Friday.
"Moscow is concerned by reports of escalation of violence in Yemen," the ministry noted. "We are calling on all parties to the conflict in Yemen to immediately cease all hostilities."
The Russian ministry also reaffirmed its principled position on "the necessity to urgently abandon the power struggle in Yemen and set up an inclusive inter-Yemeni negotiating process guided by the UN which will take into account interests of all key political forces as well as religious and regional groups of population of this country."
"We support intensification of mediation efforts to look for political ways out [of the crisis], with their success directly depending on lowering the level of confrontation and tensions in Yemen and around it," the ministry added.
The Russian agency also stressed that it intends "to continue comprehensively facilitate steps undertaken by UN Special Envoy for Yemen Martin Griffiths to establish an inclusive and sustainable dialogue aimed at ensuring a complex and lasting resolution of numerous issues Yemen is facing now.".


tass--2020-06-26--Eight Moscow doctors to arrive in Tuva to help fight COVID-19

MOSCOW , June 26 .
/TASS/ .
Doctors from Moscow clinics will help their colleagues in Tuva battle the coronavirus infection , Head of Russia 's Republic of Tuva Sholban Kara-ool wrote on his VKontakte page on Friday .
`` In the next few days , doctors from Moscow clinics are flying out to us in Кyzyl .
For now [ we are expecting ] eight experts , mostly critical care physicians and pulmonologists .
The others will arrive later .
[ These are ] people with enormous experience in treating COVID-19 infected patients .
Their main mission is to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ latest methods to counteract the infection , and to treat serious cases , '' the head of the republic said .
He added that he is satisfied with the performance of the local healthcare workers but the contribution by the Moscow doctors will make it possible to reverse the situation in the region .
Earlier , the leader of the republic addressed the Russian Health Ministry with an appeal to send 15 doctors to the region in order to fight the coronavirus infection .
According to the local authorities , 4,111 coronavirus cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2,212 patients having recovered from the disease and 14 fatalities .

MOSCOW, June 26. /TASS/. Doctors from Moscow clinics will help their colleagues in Tuva battle the coronavirus infection, Head of Russia's Republic of Tuva Sholban Kara-ool wrote on his VKontakte page on Friday.
"In the next few days, doctors from Moscow clinics are flying out to us in Кyzyl. For now [we are expecting] eight experts, mostly critical care physicians and pulmonologists. The others will arrive later. [These are] people with enormous experience in treating COVID-19 infected patients. Their main mission is to consult our doctors, teach them the latest methods to counteract the infection, and to treat serious cases," the head of the republic said.
He added that he is satisfied with the performance of the local healthcare workers but the contribution by the Moscow doctors will make it possible to reverse the situation in the region.
Earlier, the leader of the republic addressed the Russian Health Ministry with an appeal to send 15 doctors to the region in order to fight the coronavirus infection. According to the local authorities, 4,111 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Tuva, with 2,212 patients having recovered from the disease and 14 fatalities.