tass--2020-07-11--Hagia Sophia decision to trigger negative response among Christians - Russian senator

MOSCOW , July 11 .
/TASS/ .
The Turkish government ’ s decision to convert the Hagia Sophia museum into a mosque will trigger a negative response in the Christian world , a Russian senator said on Friday .
`` The cathedral will again be used as a mosque , and , certainly , this will trigger an extremely negative response throughout the entire Christian world , '' said Konstantin Kosachev , who heads the Foreign Affairs committee at the upper chamber of the Russian parliament .
The senator said in a Facebook post that Hagia Sophia was `` an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ directly related to its history . ''
Therefore , the assumption that the fate of an architectural monument is an internal affair of a country that houses it is not applicable in this case , he added .
`` Domestic policy matters were predominant in this case , '' Kosachev said , adding that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was seeking to gain support among political forces that favor the Islamization of Turkey .
`` Talks of an early parliamentary election continue to circulate , and changing the status of Hagia Sophia might @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forces .
Here ’ s the explanation - but not a justification - to a fact that a unique historical building with Christian and Islamic decorations , which for many years served as a symbol of religious accord in Turkey and beyond , will lose its neutral status of a museum , '' he added .
`` I believe that from now on Ankara will be seen as a violator of religious balance in the eyes of the whole world and will lose its clout as an important regional player .
Too bad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Turkish Council of State cancelled the Turkish government ’ s decree on assigning the museum status to Hagia Sophia .
Later in the day , President Recept Tayyip Erdogan signed a decree allowing Moslems to perform prayers in Hagia Sophia , which now enjoys the status of a mosque .
The Hagia Sophia is a Byzantine architectural monument .
The cathedral was constructed between 532 and 537 AD by a decree from then Byzantine Emperor Justinian I .
After the fall of Byzantine Empire in 1453 , the cathedral was converted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under the decree of the Turkish government signed by the founder of the modern Turkish state Mustafa Kemal Ataturk , the building was transformed into a museum .
White plaster covering Christian mosaics and murals were removed .
In 1985 , the building was included on the UNESCO World Heritage ’ s list of monuments .

MOSCOW, July 11. /TASS/. The Turkish government’s decision to convert the Hagia Sophia museum into a mosque will trigger a negative response in the Christian world, a Russian senator said on Friday.
"The cathedral will again be used as a mosque, and, certainly, this will trigger an extremely negative response throughout the entire Christian world," said Konstantin Kosachev, who heads the Foreign Affairs committee at the upper chamber of the Russian parliament.
The senator said in a Facebook post that Hagia Sophia was "an important holy place for global Christianity, directly related to its history." Therefore, the assumption that the fate of an architectural monument is an internal affair of a country that houses it is not applicable in this case, he added.
"Domestic policy matters were predominant in this case," Kosachev said, adding that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was seeking to gain support among political forces that favor the Islamization of Turkey.
"Talks of an early parliamentary election continue to circulate, and changing the status of Hagia Sophia might play into the hands of the ruling forces. Here’s the explanation - but not a justification - to a fact that a unique historical building with Christian and Islamic decorations, which for many years served as a symbol of religious accord in Turkey and beyond, will lose its neutral status of a museum," he added.
"I believe that from now on Ankara will be seen as a violator of religious balance in the eyes of the whole world and will lose its clout as an important regional player. Too bad," Kosachev said.
On Friday, the Turkish Council of State cancelled the Turkish government’s decree on assigning the museum status to Hagia Sophia. Later in the day, President Recept Tayyip Erdogan signed a decree allowing Moslems to perform prayers in Hagia Sophia, which now enjoys the status of a mosque.
The Hagia Sophia is a Byzantine architectural monument. The cathedral was constructed between 532 and 537 AD by a decree from then Byzantine Emperor Justinian I.
After the fall of Byzantine Empire in 1453, the cathedral was converted into a mosque. In 1935, under the decree of the Turkish government signed by the founder of the modern Turkish state Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the building was transformed into a museum. White plaster covering Christian mosaics and murals were removed. In 1985, the building was included on the UNESCO World Heritage’s list of monuments.


tass--2020-07-11--US jury finds Russian cybercrime suspect Nikulin guilty on all counts

NEW YORK , July 11 .
/TASS/ .
The jury at the US District Court for the Northern District of California found Russian citizen Yevgeny Nikulin gulty on nine counts of cybercrime , according to a live broadcast of the court session via Zoom .
The judge said it was a unanimous decision and read out the verdict .
According to the verdict , the jury disagreed with the prosecutors ’ reasons and cleared Nikulin of two sections of two counts .
However , the Russian citizen was still found guilty on those counts .
It took the jury several @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sentencing will take place in San Francisco at 14:00 on September 29 , 2020 , the District Court for the Northern District of California said .
Nikulin ’ s lawyer Arkady Bukh told TASS that the verdict will be appealed .
`` We are certainly filing an appeal .
An agreement with the family has already been reached .
A huge injustice has taken place , '' he said .
The lawyer said a psychiatric examination ordered by the judge found that Nikulin had problems with his mental health .
Apparently , there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Bukh said .
In his words , an appeal must be filed within 60 days , `` but some changes are possible due to the coronavirus . ''
`` But we are certainly going to the court of appeal , '' he added .
The trial of Nikulin , accused of cybercrimes in the US , began in San Francisco on March 9 , but it was suspended on March 16 due to the spread of coronavirus .
The US authorities hold Nikulin responsible for a number of crimes , including hacking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ data .
He was detained in Prague on October 5 , 2016 .
In November 2016 , a request for Nikulin ’ s extradition was lodged by Russia , where he is accused of stealing $ 3,400 through the Internet in 2009 .
The Czech Republic on March 31 confirmed that Nikulin was extradited to the United States .
On the same day he faced a court in San Francisco to plead not guilty .

NEW YORK, July 11. /TASS/. The jury at the US District Court for the Northern District of California found Russian citizen Yevgeny Nikulin gulty on nine counts of cybercrime, according to a live broadcast of the court session via Zoom.
The judge said it was a unanimous decision and read out the verdict.
According to the verdict, the jury disagreed with the prosecutors’ reasons and cleared Nikulin of two sections of two counts. However, the Russian citizen was still found guilty on those counts.
It took the jury several hours to pass the decision.
The sentencing will take place in San Francisco at 14:00 on September 29, 2020, the District Court for the Northern District of California said.
Nikulin’s lawyer Arkady Bukh told TASS that the verdict will be appealed.
"We are certainly filing an appeal. An agreement with the family has already been reached. A huge injustice has taken place," he said.
The lawyer said a psychiatric examination ordered by the judge found that Nikulin had problems with his mental health.
Apparently, there will be some other additional reasons," Bukh said.
In his words, an appeal must be filed within 60 days, "but some changes are possible due to the coronavirus." "But we are certainly going to the court of appeal," he added.
The trial of Nikulin, accused of cybercrimes in the US, began in San Francisco on March 9, but it was suspended on March 16 due to the spread of coronavirus. The US authorities hold Nikulin responsible for a number of crimes, including hacking into computer systems and theft of personal data. He was detained in Prague on October 5, 2016. In November 2016, a request for Nikulin’s extradition was lodged by Russia, where he is accused of stealing $3,400 through the Internet in 2009.
The Czech Republic on March 31 confirmed that Nikulin was extradited to the United States. On the same day he faced a court in San Francisco to plead not guilty.


tass--2020-07-12--US’s Green Party nominates Howie Hawkins as presidential candidate

WASHINGTON , July 12 .
/TASS/ .
The US Green Party nominated Howie Hawkins , 67 , as its candidate for this year ’ s presidential elections .
In October last year , the US Socialist Party also nominated him .
By doing so , Hawkins plans to unite the efforts of the minor left parties .
The New York unionist has no chances to win the election , but he can theoretically influence the outcome of the standoff between incumbent President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden , who are supposed to be officially nominated as candidates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , correspondingly .
Previously , Hawkins ran for various offices for 24 times - from Syracuse city council to New York governor - but failed every time. ''
Our country needs the Green Party now , because we ’ re living in a failed state , '' the politician said Saturday , pointing at the economic inequality , the federal response to the coronavirus and policies that do little to address racism .
According to Hawkins , neither the Republicans nor the Democrats managed to provide affordable housing , jobs and opportunities to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chose African American Angela Walker , an activist , labor organizer and bus and truck driver as his running mate .
During the 2016 elections , she was the running mate of the Socialist Party candidate .
The Green candidate proposes to redirect budget funds to improvement of education and professional training , as well as provision of healthcare to all Americans .
He also proposes to stop production of all kinds of fossil fuels and to legalize several drugs .
The politician , who speaks against all kinds of armed conflicts and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police and the Armed Forces ’ funding and redirect this money to social services and development of treatment of mental conditions .
He says US educational facilities and enterprises should stay closed until the authorities take the COVID spread under control .
Currently , Hawkins ’ s name is included in ballots in almost half of the US ’ s states .
The Green Party seeks to increase the number of states , although it faces a number of difficulties on this path .
The candidate denies allegations that he runs to steal @ @ @ @

WASHINGTON, July 12. /TASS/. The US Green Party nominated Howie Hawkins, 67, as its candidate for this year’s presidential elections. In October last year, the US Socialist Party also nominated him. By doing so, Hawkins plans to unite the efforts of the minor left parties.
The New York unionist has no chances to win the election, but he can theoretically influence the outcome of the standoff between incumbent President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden, who are supposed to be officially nominated as candidates for the Republican and the Democratic Party, correspondingly.
Previously, Hawkins ran for various offices for 24 times - from Syracuse city council to New York governor - but failed every time.
" Our country needs the Green Party now, because we’re living in a failed state," the politician said Saturday, pointing at the economic inequality, the federal response to the coronavirus and policies that do little to address racism. According to Hawkins, neither the Republicans nor the Democrats managed to provide affordable housing, jobs and opportunities to the Americans across the country.
Hawkins chose African American Angela Walker, an activist, labor organizer and bus and truck driver as his running mate. During the 2016 elections, she was the running mate of the Socialist Party candidate.
The program
The Green candidate proposes to redirect budget funds to improvement of education and professional training, as well as provision of healthcare to all Americans. He also proposes to stop production of all kinds of fossil fuels and to legalize several drugs.
The politician, who speaks against all kinds of armed conflicts and nuclear technologies, proposes to remove the police and the Armed Forces’ funding and redirect this money to social services and development of treatment of mental conditions. He says US educational facilities and enterprises should stay closed until the authorities take the COVID spread under control.
Currently, Hawkins’s name is included in ballots in almost half of the US’s states. The Green Party seeks to increase the number of states, although it faces a number of difficulties on this path.
The candidate denies allegations that he runs to steal votes from Biden.


tass--2020-07-12--Russia abstained from UN vote on Syria because of discontent over resolution preparation

UNITED NATIONS , July 12 .
/TASS/ .
Russia abstained from the UN Security Council vote on extension of the trans-border humanitarian aid to Syria because of its discontent over the process of preparation of the document by Germany and Belgium , Russian Deputy Permanent Representative to UN Dmitry Polyansky said , speaking at the Council meeting on the outcome of the vote .
The resolution was passed by the majority of votes , while Russia , China and the Dominican Republic abstained .
`` I announce with regret that we abstained from the vote [ … ] because we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conducted the process of its negotiation , '' he said .
`` From the very beginning , this process was marred by sluggishness , hypocrisy , disrespect and even neglect to the set Security Council ’ s rules , '' the diplomat said , adding that Russia proposed to leave only a single , most important checkpoint .
`` We could have come to this result much earlier , '' the diplomat said .
Responding to German Permanent Representative Christoph Heusgen ’ s objections , Polyansky explained what exactly he meant by `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is when we tell you on Monday already that the only way to aid all Syrians while preserving the nation ’ s sovereignty would be to preserve only one checkpoint , but you refuse to go this way and take us through several extra votes , painting Russia and China as enemies of the international community every time , '' he said .
The Saturday vote was the fifth attempt of the Security Council to extend the trans-border operations .
The final resolution is extremely brief and rules `` to extend Resolution 2139 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ al-Salam ( Turkish border ) , Al Ya ’ rubiah ( Iraqi border ) and Al Ramta ( Jordanian border ) . ''
Therefore , the aid shipment will take place through a single checkpoint on the Turkish border - Bab al-Hawa .
Throughout the week , Russia has put to vote its own draft resolution , which implied extension of aid through a single checkpoint .
However , the Western nations sought to insist on two checkpoints ; besides , they disagreed with the clause condemning unilateral sanctions against Syria .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in July of 2014 .
Moscow justifies the need to wrap up the mechanism by the situation on the ground which changed over the course of the last six years .
More and more Syrian regions return under Damascus ’ s control , making it possible to deliver the aid in coordination with the Syrian government , in compliance with the international humanitarian law .

UNITED NATIONS, July 12. /TASS/. Russia abstained from the UN Security Council vote on extension of the trans-border humanitarian aid to Syria because of its discontent over the process of preparation of the document by Germany and Belgium, Russian Deputy Permanent Representative to UN Dmitry Polyansky said, speaking at the Council meeting on the outcome of the vote.
The resolution was passed by the majority of votes, while Russia, China and the Dominican Republic abstained.
"I announce with regret that we abstained from the vote […] because we are disappointed by the way its authors conducted the process of its negotiation," he said.
"From the very beginning, this process was marred by sluggishness, hypocrisy, disrespect and even neglect to the set Security Council’s rules," the diplomat said, adding that Russia proposed to leave only a single, most important checkpoint.
"We could have come to this result much earlier," the diplomat said.
Responding to German Permanent Representative Christoph Heusgen’s objections, Polyansky explained what exactly he meant by "sluggishness and hypocrisy."
"Sluggishness is when we tell you on Monday already that the only way to aid all Syrians while preserving the nation’s sovereignty would be to preserve only one checkpoint, but you refuse to go this way and take us through several extra votes, painting Russia and China as enemies of the international community every time," he said.
The Saturday vote was the fifth attempt of the Security Council to extend the trans-border operations. The final resolution is extremely brief and rules "to extend Resolution 2139 by 12 months while excluding checkpoints Bab al-Salam (Turkish border), Al Ya’rubiah (Iraqi border) and Al Ramta (Jordanian border)." Therefore, the aid shipment will take place through a single checkpoint on the Turkish border - Bab al-Hawa.
Throughout the week, Russia has put to vote its own draft resolution, which implied extension of aid through a single checkpoint. However, the Western nations sought to insist on two checkpoints; besides, they disagreed with the clause condemning unilateral sanctions against Syria.
The UN Security Council introduced the trans-border operations in July of 2014. Moscow justifies the need to wrap up the mechanism by the situation on the ground which changed over the course of the last six years. More and more Syrian regions return under Damascus’s control, making it possible to deliver the aid in coordination with the Syrian government, in compliance with the international humanitarian law.


tass--2020-07-12--UN Security Council extends trans-border aid to Syria on fifth try

UNITED NATIONS , July 12 .
/TASS/ .
The United Nations Security Council passed a resolution to extend the trans-border humanitarian aid mechanism for Syria through a single checkpoint on Turkish border for one year , German Permanent Representative to UN Christoph Heusgen , the president of the Council for July , said Saturday .
`` Twelve votes for , three countries abstained .
The draft resolution was passed by a majority of votes , '' he said .
The three abstained countries were Russia , China and the Dominican Republic .
The Saturday vote was the fifth attempt of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ operations .
The final resolution is extremely brief and rules `` to extend Resolution 2139 by 12 months while excluding checkpoints Bab al-Salam ( Turkish border ) , Al Ya ’ rubiah ( Iraqi border ) and Al Ramta ( Jordanian border ) . ''
Therefore , the aid shipment will take place through a single checkpoint on the Turkish border - Bab al-Hawa .
Throughout the week , Russia has put to vote its own draft resolution , which implied extension of aid through a single checkpoint .
However , the Western @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; besides , they disagreed with the clause condemning unilateral sanctions against Syria .
The UN Security Council introduced the trans-border operations in July of 2014 .
Moscow justifies the need to wrap up the mechanism by the situation on the ground which changed over the course of the last six years .
More and more Syrian regions return under Damascus ’ s control , making it possible to deliver the aid in coordination with the Syrian government , in compliance with the international humanitarian law .

UNITED NATIONS, July 12. /TASS/. The United Nations Security Council passed a resolution to extend the trans-border humanitarian aid mechanism for Syria through a single checkpoint on Turkish border for one year, German Permanent Representative to UN Christoph Heusgen, the president of the Council for July, said Saturday.
"Twelve votes for, three countries abstained. The draft resolution was passed by a majority of votes," he said.
The three abstained countries were Russia, China and the Dominican Republic.
The Saturday vote was the fifth attempt of the Security Council to extend the trans-border operations. The final resolution is extremely brief and rules "to extend Resolution 2139 by 12 months while excluding checkpoints Bab al-Salam (Turkish border), Al Ya’rubiah (Iraqi border) and Al Ramta (Jordanian border)." Therefore, the aid shipment will take place through a single checkpoint on the Turkish border - Bab al-Hawa.
Throughout the week, Russia has put to vote its own draft resolution, which implied extension of aid through a single checkpoint. However, the Western nations sought to insist on two checkpoints; besides, they disagreed with the clause condemning unilateral sanctions against Syria.
The UN Security Council introduced the trans-border operations in July of 2014. Moscow justifies the need to wrap up the mechanism by the situation on the ground which changed over the course of the last six years. More and more Syrian regions return under Damascus’s control, making it possible to deliver the aid in coordination with the Syrian government, in compliance with the international humanitarian law.


tass--2020-07-12--Moscow's death toll from confirmed coronavirus cases rises by 27 to 4,143

MOSCOW , July 11 .
/TASS/ .
Another 27 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 died in Moscow over the past 24 @ @ @ @ @ s anti-coronavirus crisis center said on Saturday .
`` Twenty-seven patients have passed away in @ @ @ @ @ pneumonia were confirmed and they tested positive for the coronavirus infection , '' the center @ @ @ @ @ a total of 4,143 deaths from confirmed COVID-19 , the disease caused by the novel @ @ @ @ @ the Russian capital .
As of July 11 , Moscow has registered nearly 228,700 coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ 164,000 patients have recovered from the disease .
According to the latest statistics , about @ @ @ @ @ infected worldwide and about 560,000 deaths have been reported .
To date , 720,547 coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ Russia , with 497,446 patients having recovered from the disease .
Russia ’ s latest @ @ @ @ @ .
Earlier , the Russian government set up an Internet hotline to keep the public @ @ @ @ @ .

MOSCOW, July 11. /TASS/. Another 27 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 died in Moscow over the past 24 hours, the city’s anti-coronavirus crisis center said on Saturday.
"Twenty-seven patients have passed away in Moscow. Their diagnoses of pneumonia were confirmed and they tested positive for the coronavirus infection," the center informed.
To date, a total of 4,143 deaths from confirmed COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, is registered in the Russian capital.
As of July 11, Moscow has registered nearly 228,700 coronavirus cases, while more than 164,000 patients have recovered from the disease.
According to the latest statistics, about 12,500,000 million people have been infected worldwide and about 560,000 deaths have been reported.
To date, 720,547 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Russia, with 497,446 patients having recovered from the disease. Russia’s latest data indicates 11,205 fatalities nationwide. Earlier, the Russian government set up an Internet hotline to keep the public updated on the coronavirus situation.


tass--2020-07-12--WHO reports single-day increase in coronavirus cases by over 219,000

MOSCOW , July 11 .
/TASS/ .
More than 219,000 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection were registered worldwide in the past day , surpassing 12.3 million , while the coronavirus-related fatalities increased by over 5,200 to over 556,000 , the World Health Organization ( WHO ) said in its daily bulletin on Saturday .
As of 11.00 Moscow time on July 11 , as many as 12,322,395 novel coronavirus cases and 556,335 coronavirus-associated deaths were registered across the globe .
The number of confirmed cases grew by 219,983 in the past 24 hours and the number of fatalities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are based on officially confirmed data from the countries .
The day before , the organization reported 228,102 new cases and 5,556 deaths throughout the world .
South and North America account for the majority of confirmed coronavirus cases - 6,397,230 .
In the past 24 hours , the number of cases grew by 132,520 and the number of deaths - by 3,487 to top 279,857 .
The number of confirmed COVID-2019 cases in Europe amounts to 2,888,850 and the number of fatalities is 202,837 .
In the past 24 hours , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the number of deaths went up by 497 .
The East Mediterranean region has 1,255,977 cases and 30,145 fatalities .
In the past 24 hours , the number of cases grew by 17,198 and the number of deaths - by 455 .
The biggest number of coronavirus cases was registered in the United States ( 3,097,300 ) , followed by Brazil ( 1,755,779 ) , India ( 820,916 ) , Russia ( 720,547 ) , Peru ( 316,448 ) , Chile ( 309,274 ) , the United Kingdom ( 288,137 ) , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 253,908 ) and Iran ( 252,720 ) .
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 .

MOSCOW, July 11. /TASS/. More than 219,000 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection were registered worldwide in the past day, surpassing 12.3 million, while the coronavirus-related fatalities increased by over 5,200 to over 556,000, the World Health Organization (WHO) said in its daily bulletin on Saturday.
As of 11.00 Moscow time on July 11, as many as 12,322,395 novel coronavirus cases and 556,335 coronavirus-associated deaths were registered across the globe. The number of confirmed cases grew by 219,983 in the past 24 hours and the number of fatalities increased by 5,286. The WHO statistics are based on officially confirmed data from the countries. The day before, the organization reported 228,102 new cases and 5,556 deaths throughout the world.
South and North America account for the majority of confirmed coronavirus cases - 6,397,230. In the past 24 hours, the number of cases grew by 132,520 and the number of deaths - by 3,487 to top 279,857. The number of confirmed COVID-2019 cases in Europe amounts to 2,888,850 and the number of fatalities is 202,837. In the past 24 hours, the number of cases grew, by 20,770 and the number of deaths went up by 497.
The East Mediterranean region has 1,255,977 cases and 30,145 fatalities. In the past 24 hours, the number of cases grew by 17,198 and the number of deaths - by 455.
The biggest number of coronavirus cases was registered in the United States (3,097,300), followed by Brazil (1,755,779), India (820,916), Russia (720,547), Peru (316,448), Chile (309,274), the United Kingdom (288,137), Mexico (282,283), Spain (253,908) and Iran (252,720).
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.


tass--2020-07-11--Aeroflot flight repatriates over 200 passengers from UK to Moscow

LONDON , July 11 .
/TASS/ .
As many as 226 passengers left the UK for Moscow on board Aeroflot ’ s flight on Saturday , Kirill Sokolov-Shcherbachev , head of the consular department at Russia ’ s embassy to the UK , told TASS .
`` As many as 226 people checked in .
Among them are nine foreigners , of whom three are CIS citizens .
We have worked in accordance with the established procedure of cooperation with the Foreign Ministry , Aeroflot , the Communications Ministry and other agencies , '' he said .
Among them are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who arrived in London from Australia , Hong Kong , Ireland , Canada and the United States .
Like the previous three flights , London - St. Petersburg on May 30 , London - Moscow on June 13 and London - Moscow on June 26 , this flight was organized by the Russian Ministry of Digital Development , Communications and Mass Media that formed lists of passengers via the online state service registry in coordination with the Russian embassy in London , the Russian Foreign Ministry and diplomatic missions in other countries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nationals from any region of the country .
Five flights have repatriated Russian nationals from London to Moscow so far since the lockdown restrictions were imposed .
On March 18 , Russia shut down its borders for all foreigners to curb the spread of coronavirus .
Furthermore , international passenger air travel , or both regular and charter flights , was fully suspended on March 27 , but the carriers were allowed to operate evacuation flights returning passengers home .
On Friday , Russian Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova told reporters that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of international flights after July 15 .
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 , 12,495,451 million people have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been reported .
According to the latest reports by the UK ’ s Department of Health and Social Care , the country has 288,133 confirmed cases , while the death toll stands at 44,650 .
To date , 720,547 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Russia , with 497,446 patients having recovered from the disease .
Russia ’ s latest data indicates 11,205 fatalities nationwide .
Earlier , the Russian government set up an Internet hotline to keep the public updated on the coronavirus situation .

LONDON, July 11. /TASS/. As many as 226 passengers left the UK for Moscow on board Aeroflot’s flight on Saturday, Kirill Sokolov-Shcherbachev, head of the consular department at Russia’s embassy to the UK, told TASS.
"As many as 226 people checked in. Among them are nine foreigners, of whom three are CIS citizens. We have worked in accordance with the established procedure of cooperation with the Foreign Ministry, Aeroflot, the Communications Ministry and other agencies," he said.
Among them are 30 transit passengers aboard the Saturday flight, who arrived in London from Australia, Hong Kong, Ireland, Canada and the United States.
Like the previous three flights, London - St. Petersburg on May 30, London - Moscow on June 13 and London - Moscow on June 26, this flight was organized by the Russian Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media that formed lists of passengers via the online state service registry in coordination with the Russian embassy in London, the Russian Foreign Ministry and diplomatic missions in other countries. The flight was available for Russian nationals from any region of the country.
Five flights have repatriated Russian nationals from London to Moscow so far since the lockdown restrictions were imposed.
On March 18, Russia shut down its borders for all foreigners to curb the spread of coronavirus. Furthermore, international passenger air travel, or both regular and charter flights, was fully suspended on March 27, but the carriers were allowed to operate evacuation flights returning passengers home.
On Friday, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova told reporters that the Russian government would start considering potential resumption of international flights after July 15.
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, 12,495,451 million people have been infected worldwide and 562,709 deaths have been reported.
According to the latest reports by the UK’s Department of Health and Social Care, the country has 288,133 confirmed cases, while the death toll stands at 44,650.
To date, 720,547 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Russia, with 497,446 patients having recovered from the disease. Russia’s latest data indicates 11,205 fatalities nationwide. Earlier, the Russian government set up an Internet hotline to keep the public updated on the coronavirus situation.


tass--2020-07-11--Prosecutors say avalanche killed Dyatlov group in Urals in 1959

YEKATERINBURG , July 11 .
/TASS/ .
The Russian Prosecutor General ’ s Office has come to a conclusion that an avalanche killed the Dyatlov group in the Ural Mountains in 1959 , Andrei Kuryakov , a deputy chief of the directorate of the Russian Prosecutor General ’ s Office for the Ural Federal District , told reporters on Saturday .
`` [ The dead tourists ’ ] injuries are characteristic for the injuries of rock climbers caught in an avalanche , '' Kuryakov said .
In February 2019 , the Prosecutor General ’ s Office announced an inquiry into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after their mysterious death .
According to Kuryakov , a comparative analysis of the tourists ’ injuries was carried out during the inquiry .
All of them died of hypothermia , except Zolotarev , Dubinin and Tribeaux-Brignolle .
Zolotarev ’ s ribs were broken .
`` If we take a [ tennis ] ball , create surrounding pressure and push from above , it will break not where the force is applied , but on the opposite side .
Correspondingly , if the snow presses everywhere from above ( three or four meters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a tonne of snow ) , then the injury should be on the opposite side .
Hence , everybody had them on the opposite side , '' he said .
In February 1959 , a group of nine ski hikers disappeared on the eastern shoulder of Otorten Mount ( meaning Mount of the Dead in the local Mansi language ) in the Sub-Arctic Urals .
The mountain pass where the incident occurred has since been named Dyatlov Pass after the group 's leader , Igor Dyatlov .
All members were experienced in long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a search when the group failed to make a scheduled arrival .
Three weeks later , five bodies were found , some hundreds of meters down the slope from the original camp .
It took two more months for investigators to find the other four bodies .
Investigators at the time determined that the hikers tore open their tent from within , departing barefoot into heavy snow and a temperature of minus 30 C. Although the corpses showed no signs of struggle , two victims had fractured skulls , two had broken ribs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It was determined only that the deaths had been caused by `` a compelling natural force . ''
Possible explanations included an avalanche , an attack by fugitive criminals or the indigenous Mansi people , a brawl among the tourists , let alone all sorts of conspiracy and alien theorists .

YEKATERINBURG, July 11. /TASS/. The Russian Prosecutor General’s Office has come to a conclusion that an avalanche killed the Dyatlov group in the Ural Mountains in 1959, Andrei Kuryakov, a deputy chief of the directorate of the Russian Prosecutor General’s Office for the Ural Federal District, told reporters on Saturday.
"[The dead tourists’] injuries are characteristic for the injuries of rock climbers caught in an avalanche," Kuryakov said.
In February 2019, the Prosecutor General’s Office announced an inquiry into the Dyatlov group case, 60 years after their mysterious death.
According to Kuryakov, a comparative analysis of the tourists’ injuries was carried out during the inquiry. All of them died of hypothermia, except Zolotarev, Dubinin and Tribeaux-Brignolle. Zolotarev’s ribs were broken.
"If we take a [tennis] ball, create surrounding pressure and push from above, it will break not where the force is applied, but on the opposite side. Correspondingly, if the snow presses everywhere from above (three or four meters of snow, that is approximately half a tonne of snow), then the injury should be on the opposite side. Hence, everybody had them on the opposite side," he said.
Dyatlov Pass
In February 1959, a group of nine ski hikers disappeared on the eastern shoulder of Otorten Mount (meaning Mount of the Dead in the local Mansi language) in the Sub-Arctic Urals. The mountain pass where the incident occurred has since been named Dyatlov Pass after the group's leader, Igor Dyatlov.
All members were experienced in long ski tours and mountain expeditions, triggering a search when the group failed to make a scheduled arrival. Three weeks later, five bodies were found, some hundreds of meters down the slope from the original camp. It took two more months for investigators to find the other four bodies.
Investigators at the time determined that the hikers tore open their tent from within, departing barefoot into heavy snow and a temperature of minus 30 C. Although the corpses showed no signs of struggle, two victims had fractured skulls, two had broken ribs, and one was missing her tongue. It was determined only that the deaths had been caused by "a compelling natural force."
Possible explanations included an avalanche, an attack by fugitive criminals or the indigenous Mansi people, a brawl among the tourists, let alone all sorts of conspiracy and alien theorists.


tass--2020-07-11--Trump bashes NYT article about Russia and Taliban as fake news

WASHINGTON , July 11 .
/TASS/ .
The New York Times article alleging that Russia was offering cash to militants in Afghanistan for killing the troops of the US and their coalition allies is a `` hit job '' , US President Donald Trump wrote on Twitter on Saturday .
`` This was just another phony hit job by the nytimes .
They had no source , they made it up .
Fake news ! ''
Trump wrote .
He attached a link to a publication which says that `` defense officials say Russian bounty info has not been corroborated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Defense Mark Esper said at the hearing in the House Armed Services Committee , `` It is the opinion of a number of intelligence entities , agencies , that could not corroborate the report . ''
Trump again suggested that the Pulitzer awards should be taken back from the US newspapers that won it for covering his electoral headquarters ’ alleged collusion with Russia , which were proved false .
`` The ‘ journalists ’ who got them were all wrong .
Take back the Pulitzers , which have become a joke !
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the New York Times published an article claiming that a Russian military intelligence unit allegedly secretly offered bounties to Taliban-linked militants for killing coalition troops in Afghanistan .
According to the daily , the intelligence finding was briefed to US President Donald Trump several months earlier , and the White House National Security Council ( NSC ) discussed the issue at an interagency meeting in late March .
On June 27 , Russian Foreign Ministry labeled the initial publication on this issue as intentionally false .
According to the Ministry , `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intellectual abilities of the US intelligence propagandists who have to come up with this nonsense instead of inventing something more credible . ''
On June 28 , Trump tweeted that the US intelligence labelled the reports of the alleged Russian attempts to offer bounty to the Afghan militants for assassination of US servicemen as false .
Trump speculated that The New York Times , which published the initial report , could have published `` another fabricated Russia Hoax , '' in a bid to `` make Republicans look bad . ''
The Russian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a terrorist group in 2003 .
The organization is outlawed on the territory of Russia .

WASHINGTON, July 11. /TASS/. The New York Times article alleging that Russia was offering cash to militants in Afghanistan for killing the troops of the US and their coalition allies is a "hit job", US President Donald Trump wrote on Twitter on Saturday.
"This was just another phony hit job by the nytimes. They had no source, they made it up. Fake news!" Trump wrote.
He attached a link to a publication which says that "defense officials say Russian bounty info has not been corroborated." On Thursday, Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said at the hearing in the House Armed Services Committee, "It is the opinion of a number of intelligence entities, agencies, that could not corroborate the report."
Trump again suggested that the Pulitzer awards should be taken back from the US newspapers that won it for covering his electoral headquarters’ alleged collusion with Russia, which were proved false.
"The ‘journalists’ who got them were all wrong. Take back the Pulitzers, which have become a joke!" he said.
On June 26, the New York Times published an article claiming that a Russian military intelligence unit allegedly secretly offered bounties to Taliban-linked militants for killing coalition troops in Afghanistan. According to the daily, the intelligence finding was briefed to US President Donald Trump several months earlier, and the White House National Security Council (NSC) discussed the issue at an interagency meeting in late March.
Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov called these allegations a lie and a "total hoax."
On June 27, Russian Foreign Ministry labeled the initial publication on this issue as intentionally false. According to the Ministry, "that unpretentious fake news clearly illustrates low intellectual abilities of the US intelligence propagandists who have to come up with this nonsense instead of inventing something more credible."
On June 28, Trump tweeted that the US intelligence labelled the reports of the alleged Russian attempts to offer bounty to the Afghan militants for assassination of US servicemen as false. Trump speculated that The New York Times, which published the initial report, could have published "another fabricated Russia Hoax," in a bid to "make Republicans look bad."
The Russian Supreme Court designated the Taliban movement as a terrorist group in 2003. The organization is outlawed on the territory of Russia.


tass--2020-07-11--Russian Su-35S, MiG-31BM scrambled to intercept US spy plane over Sea of Japan

MOSCOW , July 11 .
/TASS/ .
Russian fighter jets of the Eastern Military District were scrambled to intercept a US reconnaissance aircraft over the Sea of Japan , the Russian Defense Ministry told reporters on Saturday .
Russian radars detected the target in international airspace over the neutral waters of the Sea of Japan .
The aircraft was heading towards the Russian sovereign airspace .
`` Sukhoi Su-35S and MiG-31BM [ fighter jets ] from the Eastern Military District ’ s air defense forces on duty were scrambled to identify and intercept the target in midair .
After approaching @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an RC-135 strategic reconnaissance aircraft of the US Air Force , '' the ministry said adding that the fighter jets were escorting the spy aircraft at a safe distance .
The Defense Ministry pointed out that after the US Air Force ’ s strategic reconnaissance aircraft made a U-turn and flew away from the Russian sovereign airspace , the Russian fighter jets returned to their home airbase .
`` All the flights of the Russian Aerospace Forces ’ [ combat aircraft ] take place in strict accordance with international airspace rules , '' @ @ @ @

MOSCOW, July 11. /TASS/. Russian fighter jets of the Eastern Military District were scrambled to intercept a US reconnaissance aircraft over the Sea of Japan, the Russian Defense Ministry told reporters on Saturday.
Russian radars detected the target in international airspace over the neutral waters of the Sea of Japan. The aircraft was heading towards the Russian sovereign airspace.
"Sukhoi Su-35S and MiG-31BM [fighter jets] from the Eastern Military District’s air defense forces on duty were scrambled to identify and intercept the target in midair. After approaching the target, they identified it as an RC-135 strategic reconnaissance aircraft of the US Air Force," the ministry said adding that the fighter jets were escorting the spy aircraft at a safe distance.
The Defense Ministry pointed out that after the US Air Force’s strategic reconnaissance aircraft made a U-turn and flew away from the Russian sovereign airspace, the Russian fighter jets returned to their home airbase.
"All the flights of the Russian Aerospace Forces’ [combat aircraft] take place in strict accordance with international airspace rules," the ministry added.


tass--2020-07-11--Russian Embassy works on returning Russian citizens from Tajikistan by land

DUSHANBE , July 11 .
/TASS/ .
The Russian diplomatic mission works on providing transit for Russians located in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan , who wish to return to Russia by land , Consul General of Russian in Khujand Andrey Varlamov told TASS .
Varlamov said that the departure of Russians from Tajikistan has already been agreed with the Tajik authorities .
`` The mechanism for the departure of Russian citizens to their homeland by land transport is being developed with Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan , and the Uzbek authorities agree to transit to the Uzbek-Kazakh border with a certificate confirming the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
According to the diplomat , the most difficult issue is transit through the territory of Kazakhstan - fuel and maintenance are needed to pass over 600 km , with women and children among the passengers .
`` According to our information , there are about 138 cars [ of Russian citizens ] in Tajikistan , 70 - in Uzbekistan , it turns into a convoy of 200 cars or more , '' he noted .
Varlamov explained that the Kazakhstan side is exploring the option of transporting people on buses and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the cost and the consent of the Russians citizens remain open .
Consul General expressed gratitude to the Tajik authorities , who reacted with understanding to the current situation and allowed to arrange a temporary import of cars without payment for a period of up to 6 months .
`` Russian citizens can leave their cars and return to Russia with repatriation flights , '' he said , noting that there are much fewer people wishing to leave in cars by land than on airplanes , and urged Russian citizens to take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Tajik authorities imposed a temporary ban on the entry and exit to citizens of all foreign countries due to the coronavirus threat .
Since March 20 , the Tajik authorities have suspended all international flights due to the pandemic .
At the same time , the Russian side has already organized a number of repatriation flights to help Russians return to their homeland .
In particular , over the past ten days , 783 Russians were delivered from Tajikistan to Russia by seven flights of Ural Airlines , Somon Air , and @ @ @

DUSHANBE, July 11. /TASS/. The Russian diplomatic mission works on providing transit for Russians located in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, who wish to return to Russia by land, Consul General of Russian in Khujand Andrey Varlamov told TASS.
Varlamov said that the departure of Russians from Tajikistan has already been agreed with the Tajik authorities. "The mechanism for the departure of Russian citizens to their homeland by land transport is being developed with Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, and the Uzbek authorities agree to transit to the Uzbek-Kazakh border with a certificate confirming the absence of coronavirus infection," he said.
According to the diplomat, the most difficult issue is transit through the territory of Kazakhstan - fuel and maintenance are needed to pass over 600 km, with women and children among the passengers. "According to our information, there are about 138 cars [of Russian citizens] in Tajikistan, 70 - in Uzbekistan, it turns into a convoy of 200 cars or more," he noted.
Varlamov explained that the Kazakhstan side is exploring the option of transporting people on buses and their cars in trailers, but questions of the cost and the consent of the Russians citizens remain open. Consul General expressed gratitude to the Tajik authorities, who reacted with understanding to the current situation and allowed to arrange a temporary import of cars without payment for a period of up to 6 months.
"Russian citizens can leave their cars and return to Russia with repatriation flights," he said, noting that there are much fewer people wishing to leave in cars by land than on airplanes, and urged Russian citizens to take advantage of repatriation flights.
In April, Tajik authorities imposed a temporary ban on the entry and exit to citizens of all foreign countries due to the coronavirus threat. Since March 20, the Tajik authorities have suspended all international flights due to the pandemic. At the same time, the Russian side has already organized a number of repatriation flights to help Russians return to their homeland. In particular, over the past ten days, 783 Russians were delivered from Tajikistan to Russia by seven flights of Ural Airlines, Somon Air, and Tajik Air.


tass--2020-07-12--Russian university says clinical trials of COVID-19 vaccine completed

MOSCOW , July 12 .
/TASS/ .
Clinical trials of vaccine against the novel coronavirus were completed on volunteers at @ @ @ @ @ results of research proved the medication ’ s effectiveness , chief researcher Elena Smolyarchuk told @ @ @ @ @ The research has been completed and it proved that the vaccine is safe .
The @ @ @ @ @ July 15 and July 20 , '' said Smolyarchuk , who heads the Center for @ @ @ @ @ Sechenov University .
The volunteers will remain under medical supervision on an out-patient basis after @ @ @ @ @ .
The first stage of research on the vaccine at Sechenov University kicked off on @ @ @ @ @ of 18 volunteers were vaccinated .
The second group of 20 volunteers were vaccinated on @ @ @

MOSCOW, July 12. /TASS/. Clinical trials of vaccine against the novel coronavirus were completed on volunteers at Sechenov University, and the results of research proved the medication’s effectiveness, chief researcher Elena Smolyarchuk told TASS on Sunday.
"The research has been completed and it proved that the vaccine is safe. The volunteers will be discharged on July 15 and July 20," said Smolyarchuk, who heads the Center for Clinical Research on Medications at Sechenov University.
The volunteers will remain under medical supervision on an out-patient basis after being discharged, she said.
The first stage of research on the vaccine at Sechenov University kicked off on June 18 when a group of 18 volunteers were vaccinated. The second group of 20 volunteers were vaccinated on June 23.


tass--2020-07-12--Russia overcomes toughest phase of pandemic with minimum losses - Kremlin

MOSCOW , July 12 .
/TASS/ .
Russia passed the most challenging stage of COVID-19 crisis with minimum losses , Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Sunday .
`` I will probably express my personal viewpoint that all agencies , all ministries and all government structures and the country ’ s leadership in general worked as a well-coordinated mechanism during this crisis , '' Peskov told Moscow .
Kremlin .
Putin program on Rossiya-1 TV channel .
In his view , `` the most acute phase of the epidemic and the related economic crisis was passed with minimum possible losses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Speaking on whether Russia would make any personnel changes in the wake of the crisis , Peskov said : `` We see that the president ’ s personnel policy is rather consistent . ''
Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier said that it was the easiest option to fire a person , but the most difficult task was to arrange work to ensure that everyone works as a well-coordinated mechanism .
`` Of course , the country 's leadership has yet to analyze the experience of going through the crisis time , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economic terms , '' Peskov said .
`` We will face difficulties ahead , it is obvious , we are looking at the global scale of the crisis , '' he warned .

MOSCOW, July 12. /TASS/. Russia passed the most challenging stage of COVID-19 crisis with minimum losses, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Sunday.
"I will probably express my personal viewpoint that all agencies, all ministries and all government structures and the country’s leadership in general worked as a well-coordinated mechanism during this crisis," Peskov told Moscow. Kremlin. Putin program on Rossiya-1 TV channel.
In his view, "the most acute phase of the epidemic and the related economic crisis was passed with minimum possible losses, this can be said for sure."
Speaking on whether Russia would make any personnel changes in the wake of the crisis, Peskov said: "We see that the president’s personnel policy is rather consistent." Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier said that it was the easiest option to fire a person, but the most difficult task was to arrange work to ensure that everyone works as a well-coordinated mechanism.
"Of course, the country's leadership has yet to analyze the experience of going through the crisis time, especially since not everything is behind in economic terms," Peskov said.
"We will face difficulties ahead, it is obvious, we are looking at the global scale of the crisis," he warned.
Russian president’s press secretary also hopes Russia will continue to avoid "dramatic manifestations" of the coronavirus epidemic.
"All who speak about it [the spread of the coronavirus infection] in professional terms, namely Moscow’s Mayor [Sergei Sobyanin], Deputy Prime Minister [Tatiana] Golikova, who head corresponding division of the anti-coronavirus crisis center, say that the current downwards dynamic gives hole that we will be able to avoid dramatic manifestations," he said.
He admitted that the coronavirus situation in the United States "is very difficult."
To mobilize economy
Russia’s leadership carried out an enormous effort during the coronavirus pandemic and managed to mobilize economy very quickly to produce necessary goods, Peskov told.
"Economy was mobilized in a blink of an eye in order to produce individual protection means, lung ventilators, various disinfection means and so on. Now this may sound just as some kind of statistical reports, but basically let’s not underestimate this enormous work that the country’s leadership did during this half a year of crisis," Peskov said.
The pandemic could not but affect Russia and added crisis related to the situation in the world, he noted. The Kremlin spokesman stressed that Russian President always made citizens’ health a priority. "When a global threat emerged <...> energetic measures needed to be taken in order to prevent the collapse of the country’s healthcare system and ensure that the healthcare system could beat this threat for human life," Peskov said, stressing that all this was done in the world’s biggest country.
The presidential spokesman agreed that this year was unusual since none of the current generations had faced the pandemic before and knew about it only from history.


tass--2020-07-12--Russian-US relations hit rock bottom, Kremlin says

MOSCOW , July 12 .
/TASS/ .
Russian-US relations are at their lowest point , Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Moscow .
Kremlin .
Putin program on Rossiya-1 TV channel on Sunday .
`` Our relations are still nearly at the lowest point , '' Peskov said commenting on the dynamics of Russian-US relations .
`` The situation is very bad - both in terms of bilateral relations and our two countries ’ responsibility for multilateral affairs , first of all the issue of control over arms and strategic stability , '' Peskov said .
According to him , there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expert level .
`` But they don ’ t bring us closer to understanding between our countries in terms of preserving any existing documents , first of all New START ( Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty ) , which are now the only documents that can ensure arms control on a global scale , '' Peskov said , recalling that Russia and the US have the biggest nuclear capabilities in the world .
`` None of other countries , including China , by the way , which the Americans are very persistently trying to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be compared in terms of its arsenal with either America or us , '' the Kremlin spokesman said .

MOSCOW, July 12. /TASS/. Russian-US relations are at their lowest point, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Moscow. Kremlin. Putin program on Rossiya-1 TV channel on Sunday.
"Our relations are still nearly at the lowest point," Peskov said commenting on the dynamics of Russian-US relations.
"The situation is very bad - both in terms of bilateral relations and our two countries’ responsibility for multilateral affairs, first of all the issue of control over arms and strategic stability," Peskov said.
According to him, there were contacts in this field at an expert level. "But they don’t bring us closer to understanding between our countries in terms of preserving any existing documents, first of all New START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty), which are now the only documents that can ensure arms control on a global scale," Peskov said, recalling that Russia and the US have the biggest nuclear capabilities in the world.
"None of other countries, including China, by the way, which the Americans are very persistently trying to invite to these negotiations, cannot be compared in terms of its arsenal with either America or us," the Kremlin spokesman said.


tass--2020-07-12--Putin says worsened ties with Ukraine not linked to Crimea’s reunification

MOSCOW , July 12 .
/TASS/ .
The deterioration of relations between Moscow and Kiev is not linked to Crimea @ @ @ @ @ , President Vladimir Putin told Moscow .
Kremlin .
Putin program on Rossiya-1 TV channel @ @ @ @ @ with Ukraine are not linked to Crimea in principle , '' Putin said .
Putin @ @ @ @ @ trend in relations between the two countries would be sooner or later over .
The @ @ @ @ @ Ukraine in late 2013 and in 2014 .
`` At first a coup d ’ @ @ @ @ @ occurred and since that moment our views and paths with the Ukrainian leadership became completely @ @ @ @ @ with them .
And only after that Crimea rejoined Russia , and not vice versa @ @ @

MOSCOW, July 12. /TASS/. The deterioration of relations between Moscow and Kiev is not linked to Crimea’s reunification with Russia, President Vladimir Putin told Moscow. Kremlin. Putin program on Rossiya-1 TV channel.
"Our spoiled relations with Ukraine are not linked to Crimea in principle," Putin said.
Putin expressed confidence that this negative trend in relations between the two countries would be sooner or later over.
The president recalled the events in Ukraine in late 2013 and in 2014. "At first a coup d’etat and the power takeover occurred and since that moment our views and paths with the Ukrainian leadership became completely opposite and we broke up with them. And only after that Crimea rejoined Russia, and not vice versa.".


tass--2020-07-12--Russia reports decline in new coronavirus cases this week

MOSCOW , July 12 .
/TASS/ .
The number of new COVID-19 cases recorded in the past seven days in @ @ @ @ @ week earlier , according to TASS estimates based on the anti-coronavirus crisis center ’ s @ @ @ @ @ reported about 45,911 COVID-19 in the period of July 6-12 .
This is the lowest @ @ @ @ @ weeks since late April .
The average growth rate in infections in the past seven @ @ @ @ @ 7.4 % and the average daily growth rate dropped from 1.02 % to 0.93 % @ @ @ @ @ recovered ( against 51,663 on June 29-July 5 ) .
For the fourth week in @ @ @ @ @ of recoveries surpasses new cases and the share of recoveries rose from 66.2 % to @ @ @ @ @ toll from the coronavirus rose by 1,174 .
This is significantly more than in the @ @ @ @ @ fatalities were recorded .
The average death rate rose by 0.07 percentage points to 1.56 @ @

MOSCOW, July 12. /TASS/. The number of new COVID-19 cases recorded in the past seven days in Russia was less than a week earlier, according to TASS estimates based on the anti-coronavirus crisis center’s data.
The crisis center reported about 45,911 COVID-19 in the period of July 6-12. This is the lowest growth over the past 11 weeks since late April. The average growth rate in infections in the past seven days reached 6.7% against 7.4% and the average daily growth rate dropped from 1.02% to 0.93%.
Another 50,311 Russians have recovered (against 51,663 on June 29-July 5). For the fourth week in a row, the number of recoveries surpasses new cases and the share of recoveries rose from 66.2% to 68.9%.
The death toll from the coronavirus rose by 1,174. This is significantly more than in the previous seven days when 1,088 fatalities were recorded. The average death rate rose by 0.07 percentage points to 1.56%.


tass--2020-07-12--Russia’s coronavirus spread rate remains at 1

MOSCOW , July 12 .
/TASS/ .
The coronavirus spread rate remained at 1 in Russia and 0.99 in Moscow on Sunday , according to TASS estimates based on the data of the anti-coronavirus crisis center .
On average , this figure , which shows the speed of the coronavirus spread , has not exceeded 1 since June 15 in Russia and since June 4 in Moscow .
Like on Saturday , the figure was below 1 in six out of 10 most affected Russian regions .
Besides Moscow , this is the Moscow Region ( 0.82 ) , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Irkutsk Region ( 0.9 ) , the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Region ( 0.96 ) and the Krasnoyarsk Region ( 0.99 ) .
This rate was estimated at 1.05 in St. Petersburg and the Nizhny Novgorod Region , 1.09 in the Sverdlovsk Region and 1.02 in the Rostov Region .
The coronavirus spread rate shows the number of people one patient can infect before being isolated .
In accordance with the Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing ’ s recommendations , the regions with the coronavirus spread rate at 1 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meet the conditions regarding free hospital beds and tests .
If the spread rate is 0.8 or less , the region can switch to the second stage of easing restrictions , while the rate at 0.5 or less allows them to move to the third stage .

MOSCOW, July 12. /TASS/. The coronavirus spread rate remained at 1 in Russia and 0.99 in Moscow on Sunday, according to TASS estimates based on the data of the anti-coronavirus crisis center.
On average, this figure, which shows the speed of the coronavirus spread, has not exceeded 1 since June 15 in Russia and since June 4 in Moscow.
Like on Saturday, the figure was below 1 in six out of 10 most affected Russian regions. Besides Moscow, this is the Moscow Region (0.82), the Voronezh Region (0.89), the Irkutsk Region (0.9), the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Region (0.96) and the Krasnoyarsk Region (0.99).
This rate was estimated at 1.05 in St. Petersburg and the Nizhny Novgorod Region, 1.09 in the Sverdlovsk Region and 1.02 in the Rostov Region.
The coronavirus spread rate shows the number of people one patient can infect before being isolated. In accordance with the Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing’s recommendations, the regions with the coronavirus spread rate at 1 or lower can relax restrictions if they meet the conditions regarding free hospital beds and tests.
If the spread rate is 0.8 or less, the region can switch to the second stage of easing restrictions, while the rate at 0.5 or less allows them to move to the third stage.


tass--2020-07-12--Russia reports 6,615 new daily COVID-19 cases

MOSCOW , July 12 .
/TASS/ .
Russia ’ s COVID-19 cases rose by 6,615 in the past day reaching 727,162 , the anti-coronavirus crisis center told reporters on Sunday .
According to the crisis center , the daily growth rate in the past six days did not exceed 0.9 % .
Some new 679 COVID-19 cases were recorded in Moscow , 293 in St. Petersburg , 286 in the Sverdlovsk Region , 267 in the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Region and 232 in the Altai Region .
The lowest growth rate in the past day was recorded in the Chukotka Autonomous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , North Ossetia , the Kaliningrad Region , the Pskov Region and the Dagestan Republic .
Another 3,615 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 were discharged in the past day , taking the total number of recoveries in Russia to 501,061 .
The total number of recoveries exceeded 69 % of the total case tally in the country .
Some 465 patients were discharged over the past day in Moscow , 322 in the Moscow Region , 239 in the Arkhangelsk Region , 190 in the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Region and 167 in the Krasnoyarsk Region @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the past day , bringing the total death toll in the country to 11,335 .
A day earlier 188 COVID-19 deaths were confirmed .
According to the crisis center , the death toll accounts for 1.56 % of all those infected in Russia .
In the past day 27 deaths were recorded in Moscow , 20 in St. Petersburg , 8 in the Arkhangelsk Region , 6 in the Moscow and Novgorod Regions .

MOSCOW, July 12. /TASS/. Russia’s COVID-19 cases rose by 6,615 in the past day reaching 727,162, the anti-coronavirus crisis center told reporters on Sunday.
According to the crisis center, the daily growth rate in the past six days did not exceed 0.9%.
Some new 679 COVID-19 cases were recorded in Moscow, 293 in St. Petersburg, 286 in the Sverdlovsk Region, 267 in the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Region and 232 in the Altai Region.
The lowest growth rate in the past day was recorded in the Chukotka Autonomous Region, Moscow, the Moscow Region, North Ossetia, the Kaliningrad Region, the Pskov Region and the Dagestan Republic.
Another 3,615 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 were discharged in the past day, taking the total number of recoveries in Russia to 501,061. The total number of recoveries exceeded 69% of the total case tally in the country.
Some 465 patients were discharged over the past day in Moscow, 322 in the Moscow Region, 239 in the Arkhangelsk Region, 190 in the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Region and 167 in the Krasnoyarsk Region.
130 patients died from the coronavirus in the past day, bringing the total death toll in the country to 11,335. A day earlier 188 COVID-19 deaths were confirmed. According to the crisis center, the death toll accounts for 1.56% of all those infected in Russia.
In the past day 27 deaths were recorded in Moscow, 20 in St. Petersburg, 8 in the Arkhangelsk Region, 6 in the Moscow and Novgorod Regions.


tass--2020-07-12--Over 164,500 people recover from coronavirus in Moscow

MOSCOW , July 12 .
/TASS/ .
Moscow doctors have cured another 465 COVID-19 patients and the total number of @ @ @ @ @ to over 164,500 , Deputy Moscow Mayor Anastasiya Rakova said on Sunday .
`` The @ @ @ @ @ keeps growing .
In the past day , another 465 patients recovered after undergoing treatment @ @ @ @ @ people who recovered from the infection rose to 164,560 , '' Rakova said .
All @ @ @ @ @ supervision after being discharged from hospitals and will receive recommendations .
The recovered Moscow citizens @ @ @ @ @ their plasma to treat coronavirus patients .
People aged 18 to 55 who have recovered @ @ @ @ @ plasma donors , provided they don ’ t have chronic illnesses and test negative for @ @ @ @ @ C .

MOSCOW, July 12. /TASS/. Moscow doctors have cured another 465 COVID-19 patients and the total number of recoveries in the city grew to over 164,500, Deputy Moscow Mayor Anastasiya Rakova said on Sunday.
"The number of recoveries in Moscow keeps growing. In the past day, another 465 patients recovered after undergoing treatment. The total number of people who recovered from the infection rose to 164,560," Rakova said.
All patients will remain under medical supervision after being discharged from hospitals and will receive recommendations.
The recovered Moscow citizens have been asked to donate their plasma to treat coronavirus patients. People aged 18 to 55 who have recovered from COVID-19 can become blood plasma donors, provided they don’t have chronic illnesses and test negative for HIV, Hepatitis B and C.


tass--2020-07-12--Russia conducts over 23 mln COVID-19 tests

MOSCOW , July 12 .
/TASS/ .
Russian specialists have carried out more than 23 mln tests for the novel @ @ @ @ @ said on Sunday .
`` More than 23 mln tests for the coronavirus have been @ @ @ @ @ the Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing reported .
Over @ @ @ @ @ were carried out .
On July 9 , the sanitary watchdog reported that the number @ @ @ @ @ mln .
According to the watchdog , some 277,700 people remain under medical supervision in @ @ @ @ @ infection .

MOSCOW, July 12. /TASS/. Russian specialists have carried out more than 23 mln tests for the novel coronavirus, the sanitary watchdog said on Sunday.
"More than 23 mln tests for the coronavirus have been conducted in Russia," the Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing reported. Over the past day 322,000 tests were carried out.
On July 9, the sanitary watchdog reported that the number of conducted tests exceeded 22 mln.
According to the watchdog, some 277,700 people remain under medical supervision in Russia over a suspected coronavirus infection.


tass--2020-07-12--Amazon founder’s ex-wife become US’s richest woman

NEW YORK , July 12 .
/TASS/ .
Ex-spouse of the world ’ s richest man , Amazon founder Jeff Bezons MacKenzie has become the richest woman in the US , Forces announced Saturday .
In July 2019 , MacKenzie Bezos received 4 % share of the world ’ s largest online retailer during a divorce process .
At the moment of the divorce , this share was worth about $ 38.3 billion .
However , Amazon stocks significantly increased in price during the coronavirus pandemic , Forbes says .
Therefore , Bezos ’ s ex-spouse ’ s net worth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
According to Forbes , she overtook Alice Walton , daughter of the Walmart founder Sam Walton , whose net worth is believed to be $ 57.3 billion .
The net worth of Jeff Bezos himself is currently about $ 188.2 billion .
Earlier , Forbes names Bezos as the first man , whose net worth ever exceeded the $ 180 billion threshold .
Amazon , the online goods and services retailer , was founded by Jeff Bezos in 1994 .
It started as online store of books and music , and steadily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and electronics store ; it has become the first US company to offer paid movie downloads for further viewing without an Internet connection .

NEW YORK, July 12. /TASS/. Ex-spouse of the world’s richest man, Amazon founder Jeff Bezons MacKenzie has become the richest woman in the US, Forces announced Saturday.
In July 2019, MacKenzie Bezos received 4% share of the world’s largest online retailer during a divorce process. At the moment of the divorce, this share was worth about $38.3 billion. However, Amazon stocks significantly increased in price during the coronavirus pandemic, Forbes says.
Therefore, Bezos’s ex-spouse’s net worth is now estimated at $62.3 billion. According to Forbes, she overtook Alice Walton, daughter of the Walmart founder Sam Walton, whose net worth is believed to be $57.3 billion.
The net worth of Jeff Bezos himself is currently about $188.2 billion. Earlier, Forbes names Bezos as the first man, whose net worth ever exceeded the $180 billion threshold.
Amazon, the online goods and services retailer, was founded by Jeff Bezos in 1994. It started as online store of books and music, and steadily switched to online movie, video games and electronics store; it has become the first US company to offer paid movie downloads for further viewing without an Internet connection.


tass--2020-07-12--Two policemen die in shooting in Texas

Two policemen die in shooting in Texas

NEW YORK , July 12 .
/TASS/ .
At least two police officers were killed in a shooting in the @ @ @ @ @ Texas , Saturday , Associated Press reported , citing McAllen police head Victor Rodriguez .
@ @ @ @ @ at the policemen , who arrived on a residential building over a emergency call .
@ @ @ @ @ a city hospital , where they later died of injuries .
According to ABC report @ @ @ @ @ when another police squad arrived .
`` We have lost two brave public servants who @ @ @ @ @ in our City , '' Rodriguez said .
The shooter ’ s identity is not @ @ @ @ @ an investigation is underway .

NEW YORK, July 12. /TASS/. At least two police officers were killed in a shooting in the US city of McAllen, Texas, Saturday, Associated Press reported, citing McAllen police head Victor Rodriguez.
An unidentified perpetrator opened fire at the policemen, who arrived on a residential building over a emergency call. The policemen were taken to a city hospital, where they later died of injuries. According to ABC report, the shooter committed suicide when another police squad arrived.
"We have lost two brave public servants who sought only to keep peace in our City," Rodriguez said. The shooter’s identity is not disclosed at the moment, an investigation is underway.


tass--2020-07-13--Elvis Presley’s grandson dies aged 27 - TMZ

NEW YORK , July 13./TASS/ .
Elvis Presley ’ s grandson , Benjamin Keough , was found dead in his @ @ @ @ @ ) , Lisa Marie Presley ’ s manager told TMZ .
According to TMZ ’ @ @ @ @ @ he died of an apparent suicide .
Not much is known about the grandson of @ @ @ @ @ Roll , since Benjamin Keough preferred to keep a low profile , the portal said @ @ @ @ @ and looked almost identical to his famous grandfather .
`` She is completely heartbroken , @ @ @ @ @ trying to stay strong for her 11 year old twins and her oldest daughter Riley @ @ @ @ @ .
He was the love of her life , '' Lisa ’ s manager , @ @ @ @ @

NEW YORK, July 13./TASS/. Elvis Presley’s grandson, Benjamin Keough, was found dead in his apartment in Calabasas (California), Lisa Marie Presley’s manager told TMZ.
According to TMZ’s law enforcement sources, he died of an apparent suicide. Not much is known about the grandson of the King of Rock and Roll, since Benjamin Keough preferred to keep a low profile, the portal said. He was a musician and looked almost identical to his famous grandfather.
"She is completely heartbroken, inconsolable and beyond devastated but trying to stay strong for her 11 year old twins and her oldest daughter Riley. She adored that boy. He was the love of her life," Lisa’s manager, Roger Widynowski, said.


tass--2020-07-13--Poland’s incumbent President Andrzej Duda winning runoff election, according to exit poll

WARSAW , July 13 .
/TASS/ .
Poland ’ s incumbent President Andrzej Duda , who is running for his @ @ @ @ @ is winning Sunday ’ s runoff election with 51 % of the votes , as @ @ @ @ @ of the exit polls by Ipsos pollster , cited by the Polish television on Monday @ @ @ @ @ , Warsaw Mayor Rafa· Trzaskowski , nominated by the biggest opposition party Civic Platform , @ @ @ @ @ the vote , according to updated preliminary results from 90 % of the regional election @ @ @ @ @ pollster , the statistical error is around one percent .
The voter turnout in the @ @ @ @ @ .
The voter turnout in the first round of elections was 64.5 % .
Official @ @ @ @ @ announced as early as on Monday .
Presidential elections in Poland are held every five @ @ @ @ @ not hold the presidential office for more than two consecutive terms .
Duda took office @ @ @

WARSAW, July 13. /TASS/. Poland’s incumbent President Andrzej Duda, who is running for his second term in office, is winning Sunday’s runoff election with 51% of the votes, as follows from the updated results of the exit polls by Ipsos pollster, cited by the Polish television on Monday.
Duda’s rival, Warsaw Mayor Rafa· Trzaskowski, nominated by the biggest opposition party Civic Platform, is scoring 49% of the vote, according to updated preliminary results from 90% of the regional election commissions.
According to Ipsos pollster, the statistical error is around one percent.
The voter turnout in the runoff election was 68.9%. The voter turnout in the first round of elections was 64.5%.
Official results are to expected be announced as early as on Monday.
Presidential elections in Poland are held every five years. One person cannot hold the presidential office for more than two consecutive terms. Duda took office in 2015.


tass--2020-07-13--Finland reopens borders for trips to almost 20 European countries

HELSINKI , July 13./TASS/ .
Finland lifts on Monday restrictions on trips to almost 20 European countries imposed amid the coronavirus pandemic , the government reports .
According to the government , the countries where it will be possible to travel without restrictions are Austria , Andorra , Belgium , Greece , Italy , Cyprus , Slovakia , Switzerland and others .
The current epidemiological situation in these countries is the criterion for lifting restrictions - up to eight new coronavirus cases per 100,000 population in the past two weeks .
Every two weeks the situation will be reviewed .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be extended for the UK , Spain , Poland , Portugal , France , the Czech Republic , Sweden and some other European nations .
Besides , trips for business or due to exigent circumstances will be allowed between Finland and some other third countries , including Australia , Algeria , Georgia , Rwanda , Thailand , Uruguay and Japan .
Overall , there are 11 countries on this list , but Russia is not on it as of now .
On Friday , the Finnish Cabinet of Ministers announced that it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number of countries , with Russia among them , until August 11 .
Transit will be allowed at the airports for the nationals of the countries with which the borders remain closed .
Besides , family members of Finnish nationals will be allowed into Finland .
The Finnish Consulate General in St. Petersburg told TASS that this concerned only spouses or underage children , as well as the parents of underage children .
Meanwhile , the number of new coronavirus cases in Finland grew by only three on Sunday , increasing overall to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been reported since the start of the pandemic .
The epidemic continues to subside with less than ten cases a day reported in Finland in the past week .
The borders of Finland were closed between March 19 and May 13 .
On May 14 , the borders inside the Schengen zone were opened for trips for work or exigent circumstances , schools and kindergartens reopened .
On June 15 , Finland opened its borders for trips to the Baltic States and countries of northern Europe with the exception of Sweden .

HELSINKI, July 13./TASS/. Finland lifts on Monday restrictions on trips to almost 20 European countries imposed amid the coronavirus pandemic, the government reports.
According to the government, the countries where it will be possible to travel without restrictions are Austria, Andorra, Belgium, Greece, Italy, Cyprus, Slovakia, Switzerland and others. The current epidemiological situation in these countries is the criterion for lifting restrictions - up to eight new coronavirus cases per 100,000 population in the past two weeks. Every two weeks the situation will be reviewed.
Meanwhile, restrictions on travel to Finland will be extended for the UK, Spain, Poland, Portugal, France, the Czech Republic, Sweden and some other European nations. Besides, trips for business or due to exigent circumstances will be allowed between Finland and some other third countries, including Australia, Algeria, Georgia, Rwanda, Thailand, Uruguay and Japan. Overall, there are 11 countries on this list, but Russia is not on it as of now.
On Friday, the Finnish Cabinet of Ministers announced that it was extending certain border restrictions for a number of countries, with Russia among them, until August 11. Transit will be allowed at the airports for the nationals of the countries with which the borders remain closed. Besides, family members of Finnish nationals will be allowed into Finland. The Finnish Consulate General in St. Petersburg told TASS that this concerned only spouses or underage children, as well as the parents of underage children.
Meanwhile, the number of new coronavirus cases in Finland grew by only three on Sunday, increasing overall to 7,294. A total of 329 fatalities have been reported since the start of the pandemic. The epidemic continues to subside with less than ten cases a day reported in Finland in the past week.
The borders of Finland were closed between March 19 and May 13. On May 14, the borders inside the Schengen zone were opened for trips for work or exigent circumstances, schools and kindergartens reopened. On June 15, Finland opened its borders for trips to the Baltic States and countries of northern Europe with the exception of Sweden.


tass--2020-07-13--Serbian president refutes allegations about ‘Russian trace’ in Belgrade protests

BELGRADE , July 13./TASS/ .
President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic has dismissed as baseless reports by certain Serbian media outlets about an alleged ‘ Russian trace ’ in Belgrade protests .
`` I have no proof of this whatsoever , '' Vucic told TV Pink on Sunday when asked about Russia ’ s possible role in the protests .
Commenting on the cancellation of a meeting with the Russian Ambassador to Serbia scheduled for July 8 , the president said it had been cancelled for technical reasons .
`` For technical reasons , I am meeting with the Russian ambassador @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The president said , however , that he was `` equally unhappy '' about the activity of certain US , German and Russia media , since he saw no difference between them .
Earlier , the Russian Foreign Ministry slammed as fake news the reports about the `` Russian trace '' behind unrest in Belgrade .
`` Certain online media outlets released reports on alleged ‘ Russian trace ’ behind the unrest in Belgrade on July 7-8 , '' the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Thursday .
`` Apparently , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trying to keep up with well-known conspiracy stereotypes of their sponsors who seem to be seeing ‘ the hand of Moscow ’ everywhere .
That low-profile paid news pursues the sole goal of casting a shadow on the Russian-Serbian partnership , '' the ministry added .
On Tuesday , President Aleksandar Vucic announced the curfew would be re-imposed in Belgrade from Friday evening until Monday morning to combat a spike in coronavirus cases .
Serbians did not support their leader ’ s decision and took to the streets without waiting for the end @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had joined the peaceful protesters , the rally against the curfew spilled into an attempted storm of the building of Serbia ’ s parliament .
Clashes erupted between the police and protesters and continued into Wednesday .
The Serbian national television reported that nationals of Israel and Kyrgyzstan were detained on Thursday for taking part in the riots .
The Alo daily said that the riots were joined by mercenaries from the US private military company Blackwater , who were the Serbs who had earlier fought for the Ukrainian army in eastern Ukraine @

BELGRADE, July 13./TASS/. President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic has dismissed as baseless reports by certain Serbian media outlets about an alleged ‘Russian trace’ in Belgrade protests.
"I have no proof of this whatsoever," Vucic told TV Pink on Sunday when asked about Russia’s possible role in the protests. Commenting on the cancellation of a meeting with the Russian Ambassador to Serbia scheduled for July 8, the president said it had been cancelled for technical reasons. "For technical reasons, I am meeting with the Russian ambassador tomorrow," President Vucic said.
The president said, however, that he was "equally unhappy" about the activity of certain US, German and Russia media, since he saw no difference between them.
Earlier, the Russian Foreign Ministry slammed as fake news the reports about the "Russian trace" behind unrest in Belgrade.
"Certain online media outlets released reports on alleged ‘Russian trace’ behind the unrest in Belgrade on July 7-8," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Thursday.
"Apparently, the authors of that fake news are trying to keep up with well-known conspiracy stereotypes of their sponsors who seem to be seeing ‘the hand of Moscow’ everywhere. That low-profile paid news pursues the sole goal of casting a shadow on the Russian-Serbian partnership," the ministry added.
On Tuesday, President Aleksandar Vucic announced the curfew would be re-imposed in Belgrade from Friday evening until Monday morning to combat a spike in coronavirus cases. Serbians did not support their leader’s decision and took to the streets without waiting for the end of his address. After far-right groups had joined the peaceful protesters, the rally against the curfew spilled into an attempted storm of the building of Serbia’s parliament. Clashes erupted between the police and protesters and continued into Wednesday.
The Serbian national television reported that nationals of Israel and Kyrgyzstan were detained on Thursday for taking part in the riots. The Alo daily said that the riots were joined by mercenaries from the US private military company Blackwater, who were the Serbs who had earlier fought for the Ukrainian army in eastern Ukraine.


tass--2020-07-13--Azerbaijan reports new tensions on the border with Armenia

BAKU , July 13./TASS/ .
The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry reported late on Sunday that the situation on the border with Armenia had once again deteriorated .
`` In the evening , the situation on the Azerbaijani-Armenian border at the Tovuz section deteriorated once again .
The Armenian army reopened artillery fire on positions of the Azerbaijani army .
The Azerbaijani army takes adequate measures in response , '' the ministry said on its Facebook page .
On Sunday afternoon , the Defense Ministry reported that positions of its army at the Azerbaijani-Armenian border had come under shelling by the Armenian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ July 12 , Armenian army units opened artillery shelling at our positions at the Tovuz section of the Azerbaijan-Armenian state border , having blatantly violated the ceasefire , '' it said , adding that two Azerbaijani soldiers were killed in the incident .
`` Armenian army units made an attempt to attack the Azerbaijani army positions at the Tovuz section of the state border using artillery systems .
As a result of retaliatory measures , the enemy was rebuffed and retreated sustaining losses .
Two Azerbaijani soldiers were killed and five more were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ministry said .
The conflict between neighboring Armenia and Azerbaijan over the highland region of Nagorno-Karabakh , a disputed territory that had been part of Azerbaijan before the Soviet Union break-up but was mainly populated by Armenians , broke out in the early 1988 after the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region announced its withdrawal from the Azerbaijani Soviet Republic .
In 1991-1994 , the confrontation spilled over into large-scale military action for control over the enclave and some adjacent territories after Azerbaijan lost control of them .
Talks on the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement have been held @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so-called OSCE Minsk Group , comprising along with its three co-chairs - Russia , France and the United States - Belarus , Germany , Italy , Sweden , Finland and Turkey .

BAKU, July 13./TASS/. The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry reported late on Sunday that the situation on the border with Armenia had once again deteriorated.
"In the evening, the situation on the Azerbaijani-Armenian border at the Tovuz section deteriorated once again. The Armenian army reopened artillery fire on positions of the Azerbaijani army. The Azerbaijani army takes adequate measures in response," the ministry said on its Facebook page.
On Sunday afternoon, the Defense Ministry reported that positions of its army at the Azerbaijani-Armenian border had come under shelling by the Armenian army.
"Starting from noon on July 12, Armenian army units opened artillery shelling at our positions at the Tovuz section of the Azerbaijan-Armenian state border, having blatantly violated the ceasefire," it said, adding that two Azerbaijani soldiers were killed in the incident.
"Armenian army units made an attempt to attack the Azerbaijani army positions at the Tovuz section of the state border using artillery systems. As a result of retaliatory measures, the enemy was rebuffed and retreated sustaining losses. Two Azerbaijani soldiers were killed and five more were wounded in the incident," the ministry said.
The conflict between neighboring Armenia and Azerbaijan over the highland region of Nagorno-Karabakh, a disputed territory that had been part of Azerbaijan before the Soviet Union break-up but was mainly populated by Armenians, broke out in the early 1988 after the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region announced its withdrawal from the Azerbaijani Soviet Republic.
In 1991-1994, the confrontation spilled over into large-scale military action for control over the enclave and some adjacent territories after Azerbaijan lost control of them.
Talks on the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement have been held since 1992 in the format of the so-called OSCE Minsk Group, comprising along with its three co-chairs - Russia, France and the United States - Belarus, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Finland and Turkey.


tass--2020-07-12--25 more coronavirus patients die in Moscow in past day

MOSCOW , July12 .
/TASS/ .
Twenty-five more coronavirus patients died in Moscow during the past day , with the @ @ @ @ @ 4,160 , the city ’ s anti-coronavirus crisis center said on Sunday .
`` Twenty-five @ @ @ @ @ have died in Moscow , '' it said , adding the overall number of coronavirus-related @ @ @ @ @ 4,168 .
To date , 727,162 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Russia , with @ @ @ @ @ the disease .
Earlier , the Russian government set up an Internet hotline to keep @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus situation .

MOSCOW, July12. /TASS/. Twenty-five more coronavirus patients died in Moscow during the past day, with the overall number of fatalities exceeding 4,160, the city’s anti-coronavirus crisis center said on Sunday.
"Twenty-five coronavirus-positive patients diagnosed with pneumonia have died in Moscow," it said, adding the overall number of coronavirus-related deaths in Moscow has reached 4,168.
To date, 727,162 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Russia, with 501,061 patients having recovered from the disease. Earlier, the Russian government set up an Internet hotline to keep the public updated on the coronavirus situation.


tass--2020-07-12--Poland’s incumbent President Andrzej Duda winning runoff election - exit poll

WARSAW , July 12 .
/TASS/ .
Poland ’ s incumbent President Andrzej Duda , who is running for his @ @ @ @ @ is winning Sunday ’ s runoff election with 50.4 % of votes , as follows @ @ @ @ @ cited by the Polish television after the closure of polling stations .
Duda ’ s @ @ @ @ @ Trzaskowski , nominated by the biggest opposition party Civic Platform , is scoring 49.6 % @ @ @ @ @ to Ipsos pollster , the statistical error is around two percent .
The voter turnout @ @ @ @ @ 68.9 % The voter turnout in the first round of elections was 64.5 % Official @ @ @ @ @ within 48 hours .
Presidential elections in Poland are held every five years .
One @ @ @ @ @ presidential office for more than two consecutive terms .
Duda took office in 2015 .

WARSAW, July 12. /TASS/. Poland’s incumbent President Andrzej Duda, who is running for his second term in office, is winning Sunday’s runoff election with 50.4% of votes, as follows from the exit poll results cited by the Polish television after the closure of polling stations.
Duda’s rival, Warsaw Mayor Rafa· Trzaskowski, nominated by the biggest opposition party Civic Platform, is scoring 49.6% of the vote.
According to Ipsos pollster, the statistical error is around two percent.
The voter turnout in the runoff election was 68.9% The voter turnout in the first round of elections was 64.5%
Official results are to be announced within 48 hours.
Presidential elections in Poland are held every five years. One person cannot hold the presidential office for more than two consecutive terms. Duda took office in 2015.


tass--2020-07-12--Two militants’ combat drones downed near Russian base at Syria’s Hmeymim

MOSCOW , July 12 .
/TASS/ .
Two militants ’ combat drones were downed near the Russian airbase at Syria ’ s Hmeymim on Saturday evening , Alexander Shcherbitsky , chief of the Russian Center for Reconciliation of the Opposing Parties in Syria , said on Sunday '' On July 11 , Russia air defense systems spotted unmanned aerial vehicles approaching the Hmeymim airbase from the northeastern direction .
Two militants ’ combat drones were downed at a distance of five kilometers of the base , '' he said , adding that no one was hurt and no material damage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continues to operate routinely .
He said that Jabhat al-Nusra ( a terrorist organization outlawed in Russia ) militants had shelled the settlement of al-Dana in the Idlib governorate during the day .
According to Shcherbitsky , the ceasefire is in force in the Idlib de-escalation zone under the Russia-Turkish agreements of March 6 , 2020 .
`` No shelling attacks by Turkey-controlled armed groups were reported in Syria ’ s Idlib de-escalation zone during the past day , '' he said , adding that Russian military police units continue patrol missions in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russian reconciliation center once again called on commanders of illegal armed groups to stop armed provocations and embark on a path of peaceful settlement of the situation in the areas they control .
The Russian reconciliation center continues to fulfill assigned tasks after the completion of the military campaign in Syria .
The center ’ s officers regularly travel around the country 's liberated areas to assess the humanitarian situation .
The main efforts of the Russian military are now focused on assistance to the refugees returning to their homes and evacuation of @ @ @ @ @

MOSCOW, July 12. /TASS/. Two militants’ combat drones were downed near the Russian airbase at Syria’s Hmeymim on Saturday evening, Alexander Shcherbitsky, chief of the Russian Center for Reconciliation of the Opposing Parties in Syria, said on Sunday
"On July 11, Russia air defense systems spotted unmanned aerial vehicles approaching the Hmeymim airbase from the northeastern direction. Two militants’ combat drones were downed at a distance of five kilometers of the base," he said, adding that no one was hurt and no material damage was done to the base, which continues to operate routinely.
He said that Jabhat al-Nusra (a terrorist organization outlawed in Russia) militants had shelled the settlement of al-Dana in the Idlib governorate during the day.
According to Shcherbitsky, the ceasefire is in force in the Idlib de-escalation zone under the Russia-Turkish agreements of March 6, 2020. "No shelling attacks by Turkey-controlled armed groups were reported in Syria’s Idlib de-escalation zone during the past day," he said, adding that Russian military police units continue patrol missions in the Aleppo and Raqqa governorates.
The Russian reconciliation center once again called on commanders of illegal armed groups to stop armed provocations and embark on a path of peaceful settlement of the situation in the areas they control.
The Russian reconciliation center continues to fulfill assigned tasks after the completion of the military campaign in Syria. The center’s officers regularly travel around the country's liberated areas to assess the humanitarian situation. The main efforts of the Russian military are now focused on assistance to the refugees returning to their homes and evacuation of civilians from de-escalation zones.


tass--2020-07-12--Area engulfed by two wildfire in Khanty-Mansi autonomous area doubles during day

MOSCOW , July 12 .
/TASS/ .
The area engulfed by two big wildfires in the Khanty-Mansi ( Yugra ) @ @ @ @ @ doubled , from 2,100 to 4,500 hectares , in a span of 24 hours , @ @ @ @ @ emergencies ministry ’ s regional department , said on Sunday .
`` Today ’ s @ @ @ @ @ on wildfires of Yugra ’ s emergencies commission yielded a decision to invigorate efforts to @ @ @ @ @ .
As of 19:00 local time ( 17:00 Moscow time ) , two biggest wildfires @ @ @ @ @ and 3,000 hectares , '' it said .
According to previous reports from the area @ @ @ @ @ on an area of 2,100 hectares .
In all , twenty-one wildfires are raging in @ @ @ @ @ of now .
Four have been localized and two have been extinguished .
The firefighting @ @ @ @ @ 21 vehicles .

MOSCOW, July 12. /TASS/. The area engulfed by two big wildfires in the Khanty-Mansi (Yugra) autonomous area has more than doubled, from 2,100 to 4,500 hectares, in a span of 24 hours, a spokesman for the Russian emergencies ministry’s regional department, said on Sunday.
"Today’s meeting of the working group on wildfires of Yugra’s emergencies commission yielded a decision to invigorate efforts to localize and put out wildfires. As of 19:00 local time (17:00 Moscow time), two biggest wildfires consumed an area of 1,500 and 3,000 hectares," it said.
According to previous reports from the area, the wildfires were registered on an area of 2,100 hectares.
In all, twenty-one wildfires are raging in the Khanty-Mansi autonomous area as of now. Four have been localized and two have been extinguished. The firefighting effort involves 446 personnel and 21 vehicles.