tass--2020-01-09--Iran’s civil aviation refutes claims of missile strike on Ukrainian plane

TEHRAN , January 9 .
/TASS/ .
Iranian experts have dropped a possible missile strike version as cause for the @ @ @ @ @ 737 near Tehran , Chief Executive of Iran ’ s Civil Aviation Organization Ali Abedzadeh @ @ @ @ @ investigation .
`` Since pilots of the Ukrainian plane tried to return back to the @ @ @ @ @ version of a missile strike on the aircraft , '' the IRNA news agency quoted @ @ @ @

TEHRAN, January 9. /TASS/. Iranian experts have dropped a possible missile strike version as cause for the crash of a Ukrainian Boeing 737 near Tehran, Chief Executive of Iran’s Civil Aviation Organization Ali Abedzadeh citing preliminary results of the investigation.
"Since pilots of the Ukrainian plane tried to return back to the airport, we rejected the version of a missile strike on the aircraft," the IRNA news agency quoted him as saying.


tass--2020-01-09--Canada requests Iran’s access of experts to plane crash site

OTTAWA , January 9 .
/TASS/ .
Canadian Foreign Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne has had a phone call with his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif when he underscored the importance of granting Canadian experts access to the crash site of Ukraine International Airlines ’ passenger plane near Tehran ’ s airport , the Canadian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Thursday .
`` The Honourable Francois-Philippe Champagne , Minister of Foreign Affairs , and Mohammad Javad Zarif , Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iran , had a phone call last night ( January 8 - TASS ) .
The two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crash of Ukraine International Airlines flight 752 from both their countries , '' the statement says .
`` Minister Champagne stressed the need for Canadian officials to be quickly granted access to Iran to provide consular services , help with identification of the deceased and take part in the investigation of the crash .
Minister Champagne said that Canada and Canadians have many questions which will need to be answered , '' the document adds .
Per earlier reports , the Canadian Foreign Ministry launched a helpline for families of those Canadian citizens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ diplomats in the Canadian embassy in Ankara are providing consular assistance .
Canada severed diplomatic ties with Iran in September 2012 .
Earlier on Wednesday , Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737 crashed in the Iranian capital of Tehran shortly after takeoff from the Imam Khomeini International Airport .
All people onboard , 167 passengers and 9 crewmembers , died in the crash including 63 Canadian citizens .
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Vadim Pristaiko announced on his Twitter page that citizens of Iran , Canada , Ukraine , Sweden , Afghanistan , German and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the crash .
The Canadian ministry also informed that Champagne `` also condemned Iranian strikes targeting bases in Iraq where Coalition forces , including Canadians , are stationed . ''
The situation around Iran exacerbated dramatically after the US launched a strike on Baghdad ’ s airport on January 3 killing General Qasem Soleimani , the head of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards ’ elite Quds Force .
Tehran vowed to respond harshly .
On January 8 , Iran retaliated by launching missile strikes on two military facilities in Iraq .
The Pentagon ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ earlier that Iran launched a missile attack on at least two military facilities in Iraq used by the United States .
According to his data , Al-Asad Air Base and the airport of Erbil were targeted .
Moreover , Trump addressed the nation at the White House on Wednesday saying that the US is ready to embrace peace with Iran and is hoping that Tehran would live in harmony with all states around the world .
At the same time , Trump announced that new `` punishing sanctions '' would be imposed on @ @

OTTAWA, January 9. /TASS/. Canadian Foreign Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne has had a phone call with his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif when he underscored the importance of granting Canadian experts access to the crash site of Ukraine International Airlines’ passenger plane near Tehran’s airport, the Canadian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Thursday.
"The Honourable Francois-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Mohammad Javad Zarif, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iran, had a phone call last night (January 8 - TASS). The two exchanged condolences for the victims of the crash of Ukraine International Airlines flight 752 from both their countries," the statement says. "Minister Champagne stressed the need for Canadian officials to be quickly granted access to Iran to provide consular services, help with identification of the deceased and take part in the investigation of the crash. Minister Champagne said that Canada and Canadians have many questions which will need to be answered," the document adds.
Per earlier reports, the Canadian Foreign Ministry launched a helpline for families of those Canadian citizens that died in the crash, while diplomats in the Canadian embassy in Ankara are providing consular assistance. Canada severed diplomatic ties with Iran in September 2012.
Earlier on Wednesday, Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737 crashed in the Iranian capital of Tehran shortly after takeoff from the Imam Khomeini International Airport. All people onboard, 167 passengers and 9 crewmembers, died in the crash including 63 Canadian citizens.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Vadim Pristaiko announced on his Twitter page that citizens of Iran, Canada, Ukraine, Sweden, Afghanistan, German and the UK were among those who died in the crash.
The Canadian ministry also informed that Champagne "also condemned Iranian strikes targeting bases in Iraq where Coalition forces, including Canadians, are stationed."
The situation around Iran exacerbated dramatically after the US launched a strike on Baghdad’s airport on January 3 killing General Qasem Soleimani, the head of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards’ elite Quds Force. Tehran vowed to respond harshly.
On January 8, Iran retaliated by launching missile strikes on two military facilities in Iraq. The Pentagon’s spokesperson, Jonathan Hoffman, said earlier that Iran launched a missile attack on at least two military facilities in Iraq used by the United States. According to his data, Al-Asad Air Base and the airport of Erbil were targeted.
Moreover, Trump addressed the nation at the White House on Wednesday saying that the US is ready to embrace peace with Iran and is hoping that Tehran would live in harmony with all states around the world. At the same time, Trump announced that new "punishing sanctions" would be imposed on Iran.


tass--2020-01-09--Lebanese authorities banned ex-Nissan chief Ghosn from leaving country

BEIRUT , January 9 .
/TASS/ .
Lebanese authorities banned former CEO of the French-Japanese automobile alliance Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Carlos Ghosn @ @ @ @ @ an interrogation on Thursday , a court source in Beirut told the Daily Star newspaper @ @ @ @ @ Japan where he had been under the house arrest facing a court trial in Tokyo @ @ @ @ @ investigators in presence of Attorney General Ghassan Uweidat , the source said .
The ex-top @ @ @ @ @ conference in Beirut on Wednesday that Japan ’ s officials and the management of Nissan @ @ @ @ @ that he is was a victim of political prosecution .

BEIRUT, January 9. /TASS/. Lebanese authorities banned former CEO of the French-Japanese automobile alliance Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Carlos Ghosn from leaving the country after an interrogation on Thursday, a court source in Beirut told the Daily Star newspaper.
Ghosn, who fled Japan where he had been under the house arrest facing a court trial in Tokyo, was interrogated by Lebanese investigators in presence of Attorney General Ghassan Uweidat, the source said.
The ex-top manager alleged at a press conference in Beirut on Wednesday that Japan’s officials and the management of Nissan colluded against him and said that he is was a victim of political prosecution.


tass--2020-01-09--Fire at Ukhta Refinery localized, city authorities say

SYKTYVKAR , January 9 .
/TASS/ .
The fire at the refinery of Lukoil-Ukhtaneftepererabotka Company in Ukhta has been contained @ @ @ @ @ Osmanov said on Thursday .
`` The fire has been localized at the moment .
@ @ @ @ @ ground ; fluid remaining in the tank is burning .
A fire train has arrived @ @ @ @ @ water ] tanks of 60 cubic meters in each and 5 tonnes of the foaming @ @ @ @ @ is currently flushed with foam , '' Usmanov said , with his comment posted on @ @ @ @ @ administration in the VKontakte social network .

SYKTYVKAR, January 9. /TASS/. The fire at the refinery of Lukoil-Ukhtaneftepererabotka Company in Ukhta has been contained, Mayor of Ukhta Magomed Osmanov said on Thursday.
"The fire has been localized at the moment. The fire was extinguished on ground; fluid remaining in the tank is burning. A fire train has arrived from Sosnogorsk with two [water] tanks of 60 cubic meters in each and 5 tonnes of the foaming agent. The fire spot is currently flushed with foam," Usmanov said, with his comment posted on the official account of the administration in the VKontakte social network.


tass--2020-01-09--Lavrov’s visit to Uzbekistan postponed to January 15-16

MOSCOW , January 9./TASS/ .
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov ’ s visit to Tashkent , Uzbekistan , has been @ @ @ @ @ January 15-16 , the Foreign Ministry reports , adding that the new date was coordinated @ @ @ @ @ call of Lavrov andh his Uzbek counterpart Abdulaziz Kamilov .
The sides `` coordinated the @ @ @ @ @ by Sergey Lavrov to the Republic of Uzbekistan , scheduled initially for January 12-13 , @ @ @ @ @ , '' the ministry said .
It also said that the two top diplomats had @ @ @ @ @ issues .
The phone call was initiated by the Russian side .

MOSCOW, January 9./TASS/. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s visit to Tashkent, Uzbekistan, has been postponed from January 12-13 to January 15-16, the Foreign Ministry reports, adding that the new date was coordinated on Thursday in a phone call of Lavrov andh his Uzbek counterpart Abdulaziz Kamilov.
The sides "coordinated the postponement of an official visit by Sergey Lavrov to the Republic of Uzbekistan, scheduled initially for January 12-13, to January 15-16, 2020," the ministry said.
It also said that the two top diplomats had exchanged opinions on key global issues. The phone call was initiated by the Russian side.


tass--2020-01-09--Abkhazian president rejects protesters’ demand that he step down

SUKHUM , January 9./TASS/ .
Abkhazian President Raul Khajimba has rejected protesters ’ appeal that he step down , handed @ @ @ @ @ group of parliamentarians amid riots in central Sukhum .
The president dismissed the demand and @ @ @ @ @ take measures to ease the situation , parliamentarian Leonid Chamagua told a parliamentary session on @ @

SUKHUM, January 9./TASS/. Abkhazian President Raul Khajimba has rejected protesters’ appeal that he step down, handed over to him by a group of parliamentarians amid riots in central Sukhum.
The president dismissed the demand and said it was necessary to take measures to ease the situation, parliamentarian Leonid Chamagua told a parliamentary session on Thursday.


tass--2020-01-09--Madame Tussauds London removes wax figures of Prince Harry, Meghan Markle from royal set

LONDON , January 9 .
/TASS/ .
London ’ s famous Madame Tussauds has taken down waxworks depicting British Prince Harry and his wife and former American actress Meghan Markle from the royal family display , the museum ’ s press service told TASS on Thursday .
The decision came after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced yesterday that they would be stepping down as senior members of the royal family , strive to become financially independent and split their time equally between the United Kingdom and North America .
`` Alongside the rest of the world we are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Duke and Duchess of Sussex will be stepping back as senior Royals .
From today Meghan and Harry ’ s figures will no longer appear in our Royal Family set .
As two of our most popular and well-loved figures they will of course remain an important feature at Madame Tussauds London as we watch to see what the next chapter holds for the them , '' Steve Davies , General Manager at Madame Tussauds London , is quoted as saying in a statement issued by the museum .
The royal couple ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s attention in the UK becoming the most talked-about topic .
Many newspapers criticized their decision , particularly highlighting that Harry and Meghan did not consult with Her Majesty Elizabeth II in advance .
The Times reports that the news came as an unpleasant surprise for the Queen .
Prince Harry and his wife were repeatedly noted to feel immense pressure from British media that they believed were paying too much attention to their personal and private life .
In particular , it was said that Harry ’ s relations with press became @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mother Diana , Princess of Wales .
The Queen ’ s grandson earlier lamented that each camera flash brings back memories of her passing .
The birth of his son Archie prompted the Duke of Sussex to pull away further from the press .
Sky News emphasized that family changed Harry ’ s attitude towards the role of a senior royal member .
In October , reports emerged that Prince Harry was pursuing legal action against The Sun and Daily Mirror tabloids , accusing their staffers of illegally obtaining access to voicemail messages @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Meghan Markle sued the British Mail on Sunday that published a personal letter she sent to her father .
The Duchess of Sussex is accusing the newspaper of unlawful use of private information and violating copyright and data laws .

LONDON, January 9. /TASS/. London’s famous Madame Tussauds has taken down waxworks depicting British Prince Harry and his wife and former American actress Meghan Markle from the royal family display, the museum’s press service told TASS on Thursday.
The decision came after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced yesterday that they would be stepping down as senior members of the royal family, strive to become financially independent and split their time equally between the United Kingdom and North America.
"Alongside the rest of the world we are reacting to the surprising news that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will be stepping back as senior Royals. From today Meghan and Harry’s figures will no longer appear in our Royal Family set. As two of our most popular and well-loved figures they will of course remain an important feature at Madame Tussauds London as we watch to see what the next chapter holds for the them," Steve Davies, General Manager at Madame Tussauds London, is quoted as saying in a statement issued by the museum.
The royal couple’s shocking announcement immediately drew everyone’s attention in the UK becoming the most talked-about topic. Many newspapers criticized their decision, particularly highlighting that Harry and Meghan did not consult with Her Majesty Elizabeth II in advance. The Times reports that the news came as an unpleasant surprise for the Queen.
Prince Harry and his wife were repeatedly noted to feel immense pressure from British media that they believed were paying too much attention to their personal and private life. In particular, it was said that Harry’s relations with press became strained after the tragic death of his mother Diana, Princess of Wales. The Queen’s grandson earlier lamented that each camera flash brings back memories of her passing. The birth of his son Archie prompted the Duke of Sussex to pull away further from the press. Sky News emphasized that family changed Harry’s attitude towards the role of a senior royal member.
In October, reports emerged that Prince Harry was pursuing legal action against The Sun and Daily Mirror tabloids, accusing their staffers of illegally obtaining access to voicemail messages. A few days prior to that, Meghan Markle sued the British Mail on Sunday that published a personal letter she sent to her father. The Duchess of Sussex is accusing the newspaper of unlawful use of private information and violating copyright and data laws.


tass--2020-01-09--Russia to build high-tech Navy capable of countering any provocations

SEVASTOPOL , January 9 .
/TASS/ .
Russia will create a high-tech Navy to ensure not a single provocative challenge should remain unanswered , Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu told the conference The Russian Navy in the 21st Century in Sevastopol on Thursday .
`` Russia ’ s growing presence in the World Ocean annoys some leading powers , which have stepped up the struggle for access to natural resources .
In order to be able to counter any provocative actions by our opponents we are building an up-to-date high-tech Navy .
For this we have a robust scientific potential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ personnel , '' Shoigu said .
He stressed that the chiefs of defense-industrial research centers and manufacturing enterprises and general designers of naval technologies had been invited to the conference .
`` This wide representation will enable us to consider in great detail the problems we are faced with and to identify solutions .
I have no doubt that we are going to have a very meaningful and constructive dialogue , '' Shoigu said .
`` The Navy has always been a symbol of a strong Russian state and a major factor for @ @ @ @ @ @

SEVASTOPOL, January 9. /TASS/. Russia will create a high-tech Navy to ensure not a single provocative challenge should remain unanswered, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu told the conference The Russian Navy in the 21st Century in Sevastopol on Thursday.
"Russia’s growing presence in the World Ocean annoys some leading powers, which have stepped up the struggle for access to natural resources. In order to be able to counter any provocative actions by our opponents we are building an up-to-date high-tech Navy. For this we have a robust scientific potential, qualified engineers and workers and well-trained personnel," Shoigu said.
He stressed that the chiefs of defense-industrial research centers and manufacturing enterprises and general designers of naval technologies had been invited to the conference.
"This wide representation will enable us to consider in great detail the problems we are faced with and to identify solutions. I have no doubt that we are going to have a very meaningful and constructive dialogue," Shoigu said. "The Navy has always been a symbol of a strong Russian state and a major factor for maintaining national security.".


tass--2020-01-09--Saudi Arabia denounces Iran’s strikes on military facilities in Iraq

CAIRO , January 9./TASS/ .
Saudi Arabia has condemned Iran ’ s missile strikes on military facilities in Iraq and urged the sides to exercise restraint to avoid an escalation of tensions in the region , the Saudi Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Thursday .
`` In view with the recent developments in Iraq and Iran ’ s strikes on two Iraqi military bases , where forces of the international anti-terrorist coalition fighting IS ( Islamic State , outlawed in Russia ) are deployed , the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia condemns this attack and violation of Iraqi sovereignty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement as saying .
`` We once again urge the sides to restraint in order to avoid the worsening of the situation around Iraq and across the region , '' it said .
Tensions around Iran flared up after the US drone strike at Baghdad International Airport , which killed General Qasem Soleimani , head of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards ’ elite Quds Force , .
On January 8 , Iran retaliated by launching missile strikes on two military facilities in Iraq used by the United States .
According to the Pentagon ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the airport of Erbil were targeted .
US President Donald Trump declared that Washington would instantly tighten economic sanctions against the Islamic Republic .
At the same time , he remarked that the US was prepared for peace with Tehran .
Iranian Permanent Representative to the UN Majid Takht Ravanchi told TASS that Iran believed that its retaliation was proportionate and had no intention of taking any further military action .

CAIRO, January 9./TASS/. Saudi Arabia has condemned Iran’s missile strikes on military facilities in Iraq and urged the sides to exercise restraint to avoid an escalation of tensions in the region, the Saudi Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Thursday.
"In view with the recent developments in Iraq and Iran’s strikes on two Iraqi military bases, where forces of the international anti-terrorist coalition fighting IS (Islamic State, outlawed in Russia) are deployed, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia condemns this attack and violation of Iraqi sovereignty," Saudi Press Agency quoted the statement as saying. "We once again urge the sides to restraint in order to avoid the worsening of the situation around Iraq and across the region," it said.
Tensions around Iran flared up after the US drone strike at Baghdad International Airport, which killed General Qasem Soleimani, head of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards’ elite Quds Force,. On January 8, Iran retaliated by launching missile strikes on two military facilities in Iraq used by the United States. According to the Pentagon’s spokesperson, the Al-Asad Air Base and the airport of Erbil were targeted.
US President Donald Trump declared that Washington would instantly tighten economic sanctions against the Islamic Republic. At the same time, he remarked that the US was prepared for peace with Tehran. Iranian Permanent Representative to the UN Majid Takht Ravanchi told TASS that Iran believed that its retaliation was proportionate and had no intention of taking any further military action.


tass--2020-01-09--Baring Vostok considers extension of Michael Calvey's house arrest unreasonable

`` We consider it unreasonable to extend the preventive measure for Michael Calvey , Philip Delpal and Alexander Tsakunov , @ @ @ @ @ firm said .
MOSCOW , January 9 .
/TASS/ .
The Baring Vostok private equity @ @ @ @ @ Calvey , considers the court decision to extend the house arrest of Calvey and his @ @ @ @ @ ’ s press service informed TASS .
The organization also noted that it will continue @ @ @ @ @ of its employees .
Earlier on Thursday , Moscow ’ s Basmanny Court prolonged the @ @ @ @ @ , the founder of the Baring Vostok private equity firm , who is accused of @ @ @ @ @ .
By the same ruling house arrest was extended for of the Baring Vostok ’ @ @ @ @ @ former director of Vostochny bank Alexei Kordichev and former director for investments of Vostochny bank @ @ @ @

"We consider it unreasonable to extend the preventive measure for Michael Calvey, Philip Delpal and Alexander Tsakunov," the official with the firm said.
MOSCOW, January 9. /TASS/. The Baring Vostok private equity firm, founded by Michael Calvey, considers the court decision to extend the house arrest of Calvey and his colleagues unreasonable, the firm’s press service informed TASS.
The organization also noted that it will continue to uphold the legal rights of its employees.
Earlier on Thursday, Moscow’s Basmanny Court prolonged the house arrest of Michael Calvey, the founder of the Baring Vostok private equity firm, who is accused of embezzlement, until February 13.
By the same ruling house arrest was extended for of the Baring Vostok’s partner Philip Delpal, former director of Vostochny bank Alexei Kordichev and former director for investments of Vostochny bank, Alexander Tsakunov.


tass--2020-01-09--Fire area on Ukhta Refinery reaches 1,000 square meters

MOSCOW , January 9 .
/TASS/ .
The area of the fire occurred on the Ukhta Refinery has increased to @ @ @ @ @ service of the Russian Ministry of Emergencies told TASS on Thursday .
`` According to @ @ @ @ @ area is 1,000 square meters .
One individual was injured and hospitalized with a minor @ @ @ @ @ service says .
The diesel fuel hydrodeparaffination unit GDS-850 is on fire , the Ministry @ @ @ @ @ 18 vehicles are taking part in fire extinguishing .

MOSCOW, January 9. /TASS/. The area of the fire occurred on the Ukhta Refinery has increased to 1,000 square meters, press service of the Russian Ministry of Emergencies told TASS on Thursday.
"According to preliminary information, the burning area is 1,000 square meters. One individual was injured and hospitalized with a minor trauma," the press service says.
The diesel fuel hydrodeparaffination unit GDS-850 is on fire, the Ministry said. 78 individuals and 18 vehicles are taking part in fire extinguishing.


tass--2020-01-09--Moscow court extends US financier Michael Calvey’s house arrest until February 13

MOSCOW , January 9 .
/TASS/ .
Moscow ’ s Basmanny Court has prolonged the house arrest of Michael Calvey , the founder of the Baring Vostok private equity firm , who is accused of embezzlement , until February 13 , a TASS correspondent reported from the courtroom .
`` [ The court ] hereby extends the preventive measure in the form of house arrest for Calvey until February 13 , 2020 , '' Judge Yulia Safina declared , reading out the ruling .
By the same ruling house arrest was extended for of the Baring Vostok ’ s partner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bank Alexei Kordichev and former director for investments of Vostochny bank , Alexander Tsakunov .
The investigation into the case is completed .
All the defendants were charged with embezzlement committed by an organized group or on an especially large scale ( part 4 , article 160 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation ) .
At the court session , the prosecutor asked to extend the house arrest to all the defendants in the case , except Tsakunov .
`` In view of the circumstances of the case , I ask @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the extension of Tsakunov ’ s house arrest as very harsh measure , '' a representative of the prosecutor ’ s office said .
At the meeting , Michael Calvey in court declared his innocence and asked for release on bail in the amount of 25 mln rubles ( $ 407,860 ) .
Philip Delpal once again declared his innocence and also asked for release on bail in the amount of 25 mln rubles .
`` At first I was accused of fraud , now they charge it to embezzlement , but it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to do with reality .
I am ready to prove this in court and ask the court to let me be [ released ] on bail , which I offer in the amount of 25 million rubles , '' Delpal said .
The investigator asked to leave the accused under house arrest .
The verdict has not yet entered into force and may be appealed to the Moscow City Court .
On February 7 , Serzod Yusupov , a minority shareholder in Vostochny Bank filed a complaint with Russia ’ s Federal Security @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Artyom Avetisyan , another Vostochny shareholder , along with the deputy chairman of the bank ’ s board Konstantin Rogov testified against Michael Calvey .
Russia ’ s Investigative Committee launched a criminal case into the embezzlement of 2.5 bln rubles ( $ 37.5 mln ) from the Vostochny Bank on February 13 .
Michael Calvey is the key defendant in the case .
On February 15 , law enforcement agencies arrested Calvey and five others : Vagan Abgaryan , partner at Baring Vostok , Philippe Delpale , an investment partner for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Ivan Zyuzin , Investment Director at Baring Vostok and also General Director of the First Collection Bureau Maxim Vladimirov and Advisor to the Management Board of Norvik Bank , Alexey Kordichev .
They are all facing charges under part 4 article 159 of Russia ’ s Criminal Code ( fraud committed on a large scale by an organized group ) .

MOSCOW, January 9. /TASS/. Moscow’s Basmanny Court has prolonged the house arrest of Michael Calvey, the founder of the Baring Vostok private equity firm, who is accused of embezzlement, until February 13, a TASS correspondent reported from the courtroom.
"[The court] hereby extends the preventive measure in the form of house arrest for Calvey until February 13, 2020," Judge Yulia Safina declared, reading out the ruling.
By the same ruling house arrest was extended for of the Baring Vostok’s partner Philip Delpal, former director of Vostochny bank Alexei Kordichev and former director for investments of Vostochny bank, Alexander Tsakunov.
The investigation into the case is completed. All the defendants were charged with embezzlement committed by an organized group or on an especially large scale (part 4, article 160 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation).
Court session
At the court session, the prosecutor asked to extend the house arrest to all the defendants in the case, except Tsakunov.
"In view of the circumstances of the case, I ask you to dismiss [petition] for the extension of Tsakunov’s house arrest as very harsh measure," a representative of the prosecutor’s office said.
At the meeting, Michael Calvey in court declared his innocence and asked for release on bail in the amount of 25 mln rubles ($407,860). Philip Delpal once again declared his innocence and also asked for release on bail in the amount of 25 mln rubles.
"At first I was accused of fraud, now they charge it to embezzlement, but it is even more absurd and has nothing to do with reality. I am ready to prove this in court and ask the court to let me be [released]on bail, which I offer in the amount of 25 million rubles," Delpal said.
The investigator asked to leave the accused under house arrest.
The verdict has not yet entered into force and may be appealed to the Moscow City Court.
Baring Vostok’s case
On February 7, Serzod Yusupov, a minority shareholder in Vostochny Bank filed a complaint with Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB). In addition, Artyom Avetisyan, another Vostochny shareholder, along with the deputy chairman of the bank’s board Konstantin Rogov testified against Michael Calvey.
Russia’s Investigative Committee launched a criminal case into the embezzlement of 2.5 bln rubles ($37.5 mln) from the Vostochny Bank on February 13. Michael Calvey is the key defendant in the case. On February 15, law enforcement agencies arrested Calvey and five others: Vagan Abgaryan, partner at Baring Vostok, Philippe Delpale, an investment partner for the financial industry sector at Baring Vostok, Ivan Zyuzin, Investment Director at Baring Vostok and also General Director of the First Collection Bureau Maxim Vladimirov and Advisor to the Management Board of Norvik Bank, Alexey Kordichev. They are all facing charges under part 4 article 159 of Russia’s Criminal Code (fraud committed on a large scale by an organized group).


tass--2020-01-09--About 250 facilities in St. Petersburg inspected due to bomb threats

ST. PETERSBURG , January 9 .
/TASS/ .
Police units are inspecting about 250 facilities in St. Petersburg due to bomb threats , a source in the emergency services informed TASS .
`` About 250 facilities are undergoing a security sweep , some are still ongoing , some have finished , '' the source stated , adding that this number includes 30 shopping centers , 40 shops , as well as kindergartens , hotels , courts , the Hermitage , Pulkovo International Airport and others .
The Hermitage press service informed TASS that the security sweep at the museum had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and employees of the museum has been carried out .
No suspicious objects have been detected on the territory of the Hermitage , '' the press service stated .
Earlier on Thursday , several St. Petersburg district courts received anonymous bomb threats , along with several maternity homes , metro stations , Pulkovo airport and other facilities .
The threats received by the courts were confirmed to be false .
A wave of bomb threats began in Moscow , St. Petersburg and other Russian regions in late November .
Unknown persons repeatedly call @ @ @ @ @ @ @ courts , schools , hospitals , airports , train stations .
All the previous threats resulted to be false .

ST. PETERSBURG, January 9. /TASS/. Police units are inspecting about 250 facilities in St. Petersburg due to bomb threats, a source in the emergency services informed TASS.
"About 250 facilities are undergoing a security sweep, some are still ongoing, some have finished," the source stated, adding that this number includes 30 shopping centers, 40 shops, as well as kindergartens, hotels, courts, the Hermitage, Pulkovo International Airport and others.
The Hermitage press service informed TASS that the security sweep at the museum had finished. "Local evacuation of visitors and employees of the museum has been carried out. No suspicious objects have been detected on the territory of the Hermitage," the press service stated.
Earlier on Thursday, several St. Petersburg district courts received anonymous bomb threats, along with several maternity homes, metro stations, Pulkovo airport and other facilities. The threats received by the courts were confirmed to be false.
A wave of bomb threats began in Moscow, St. Petersburg and other Russian regions in late November. Unknown persons repeatedly call in bomb threats to various facilities: courts, schools, hospitals, airports, train stations. All the previous threats resulted to be false.


tass--2020-01-09--NATO missile defense system in Romania monitored Iran’s strikes, says secretary general

BRUSSELS , January 9 .
/TASS/ .
NATO missile defense system in Romania provided the alliance with valuable information regarding Iran ’ s missile strike on US bases in Iraq , NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Thursday during a joint press conference with Romanian Prime Minister Ludovic Orban .
`` When it comes to ballistic missile defense in Romania , in Devesulu , we are , of course , vigilant .
We are following the situation very closely , '' Stoltenberg said .
`` The missile defense sites and the radars are , of course , providing us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to follow the situation very closely . ''
Tensions in the Middle East escalated following a US drone strike near Baghdad 's airport on January 3 , which killed General Qasem Soleimani , the head of Iran 's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps ' Quds Force .
In the early hours of January 8 , Iran carried out missile strikes on Iraq ’ s Ain Al-Asad air base and a facility in Erbil , which house US troops , in retaliation for the attack .
Following Iran ’ s strikes , US President Donald @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nation that `` the United States will immediately impose additional punishing economic sanctions on the Iranian regime . ''
`` These powerful sanctions will remain until Iran changes its behavior , '' Trump pointed out , adding , however , that `` the United States is ready to embrace peace with all who seek it . ''
Iran ’ s Ambassador to the United Nations Majid Takht-Ravanchi , in turn , told TASS that Tehran believed its response was enough in terms of retaliation , and did not plan to take further military @ @

BRUSSELS, January 9. /TASS/. NATO missile defense system in Romania provided the alliance with valuable information regarding Iran’s missile strike on US bases in Iraq, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Thursday during a joint press conference with Romanian Prime Minister Ludovic Orban.
"When it comes to ballistic missile defense in Romania, in Devesulu, we are, of course, vigilant. We are following the situation very closely," Stoltenberg said. "The missile defense sites and the radars are, of course, providing us with valuable information, and we continue to follow the situation very closely."
Tensions in the Middle East escalated following a US drone strike near Baghdad's airport on January 3, which killed General Qasem Soleimani, the head of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' Quds Force. In the early hours of January 8, Iran carried out missile strikes on Iraq’s Ain Al-Asad air base and a facility in Erbil, which house US troops, in retaliation for the attack.
Following Iran’s strikes, US President Donald Trump said in an address to the nation that "the United States will immediately impose additional punishing economic sanctions on the Iranian regime." "These powerful sanctions will remain until Iran changes its behavior," Trump pointed out, adding, however, that "the United States is ready to embrace peace with all who seek it." Iran’s Ambassador to the United Nations Majid Takht-Ravanchi, in turn, told TASS that Tehran believed its response was enough in terms of retaliation, and did not plan to take further military action.


tass--2020-01-09--State of emergency may be declared in Abkhazia

SUKHUM , January 9./TASS/ .
Abkhazian President Raul Khajimba does not rule out that a state of emergency may be declared in the country amid the developments in capital city Sukhum .
`` All state government bodies are operating in the routine mode .
The law enforcement agencies have been placed on a heightened state of alert .
In case of a need , I will take measures to impose a state of emergency in the country , '' the president said in a statement uploaded to the presidential website .
`` We have already discussed such development of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Khajimba said .
Abkhazia ’ s opposition was to hold a demonstration in Sukhum on Thursday in protest against last September ’ s presidential election .
Originally the protesters were going to demonstrate in front of the court building , where Abkhazia ’ s Supreme Court resumed hearings on a lawsuit filed by the opposition ’ s presidential candidate Alkhas Kvitsiani , from the Amtsakhara party , in protest against the ruling pronounced by a court of lower instance to declare the election valid .
Another crowd of several hundred gathered in front @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concerned the arrest of a suspect in the November 2019 killing of three persons .
The suspect is allegedly one of the Abkhazian president ’ s bodyguards .
The rally ’ s organizer , Akhra Avidzba , is a relative of one of those killed .
Later in the day opposition demonstrators moved to the building of the presidential staff .
The crowd put forward a demand for the resignation of President Raul Khadzhimba and forced their way into the building of the presidential staff .
Khajimba is elsewhere .

SUKHUM, January 9./TASS/. Abkhazian President Raul Khajimba does not rule out that a state of emergency may be declared in the country amid the developments in capital city Sukhum.
"All state government bodies are operating in the routine mode. The law enforcement agencies have been placed on a heightened state of alert. In case of a need, I will take measures to impose a state of emergency in the country," the president said in a statement uploaded to the presidential website.
"We have already discussed such development of the events with the Security Council," Khajimba said.
Situation in Abkhazia
Abkhazia’s opposition was to hold a demonstration in Sukhum on Thursday in protest against last September’s presidential election. Originally the protesters were going to demonstrate in front of the court building, where Abkhazia’s Supreme Court resumed hearings on a lawsuit filed by the opposition’s presidential candidate Alkhas Kvitsiani, from the Amtsakhara party, in protest against the ruling pronounced by a court of lower instance to declare the election valid.
Another crowd of several hundred gathered in front of the presidential staff. The protest concerned the arrest of a suspect in the November 2019 killing of three persons. The suspect is allegedly one of the Abkhazian president’s bodyguards. The rally’s organizer, Akhra Avidzba, is a relative of one of those killed. Later in the day opposition demonstrators moved to the building of the presidential staff. The crowd put forward a demand for the resignation of President Raul Khadzhimba and forced their way into the building of the presidential staff. Khajimba is elsewhere.


tass--2020-01-09--Putin praises Black Sea, Northern fleets joint naval drill as successful

SEVASTOPOL , January 9./TASS/ .
Russian President Vladimir Putin hailed on Thursday the results of the Thursday ’ s joint @ @ @ @ @ Black Sea and Northern fleets , expressing gratitude to the Defense Ministry , the General @ @ @ @ @ The president thanked Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy Nikolai Yevmenov , `` the defense minister @ @ @ @ @ who prepared this exercise , organized and carried it out , as well as the @ @ @ @ @ results of the activity at sea today , '' in the opening remarks at a @ @ @ @ @ on Thursday .
It was a major and successful exercise , the president stressed .

SEVASTOPOL, January 9./TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin hailed on Thursday the results of the Thursday’s joint naval exercise of the Russian Black Sea and Northern fleets, expressing gratitude to the Defense Ministry, the General Staff and the personnel.
The president thanked Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy Nikolai Yevmenov, "the defense minister and the General Staff, who prepared this exercise, organized and carried it out, as well as the personnel, for the good results of the activity at sea today," in the opening remarks at a session at Nakhimov Naval Academy on Thursday. It was a major and successful exercise, the president stressed.


tass--2020-01-09--Abkhazia’s president asks people to avoid yielding to provocations

SUKHUM , January 9 .
/TASS/ .
Abkhazia ’ s President Raul Khadzhimba has issued a statement following a meeting @ @ @ @ @ connection with rallies in the capital .
He urged the people to avoid yielding to @ @ @ @ @ `` Dear fellow citizens , in connection with the latest events that have taken place @ @ @ @ @ you to stay calm and avoid yielding to provocations , '' the statement runs .
@ @ @ @ @ the existence of the state in this no easy situation .
`` .

SUKHUM, January 9. /TASS/. Abkhazia’s President Raul Khadzhimba has issued a statement following a meeting of the Security Council in connection with rallies in the capital. He urged the people to avoid yielding to provocations and stay calm.
"Dear fellow citizens, in connection with the latest events that have taken place in Sukhum I am asking you to stay calm and avoid yielding to provocations," the statement runs. He warned against "jeopardizing the existence of the state in this no easy situation.".


tass--2020-01-09--Russians not rushing to call off Middle East trips over Iran flare-up

MOSCOW , January 9 .
/TASS/ .
Russian nationals are not canceling trips to the Middle East against the backdrop of recommendations from the Russian Federal Agency for Air Transport for Russian carriers not to use the airspace of Iran and Iraq , Vice President of the Association of Tour Operators of Russia ( ATOR ) Dmitry Gorin told TASS on Thursday .
On January 8 , the federal agency advised Russian carriers against flying over Iran and Iraq , as well as over the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman .
With this in mind , the Russian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to inform tourists promptly about changes in the timetable of flights .
`` This does not affect [ the demand ] .
There have been no trip cancellations .
Moreover , we have already had a similar situation , when a decision was made to bypass Ukraine en route to Turkey , '' Gorin pointed out .
The United Arab Emirates is the most lucrative Middle Eastern destination for Russian tourists , he said .
As for Iran , it is visited mainly by individual tourists , Gorin noted .
According to him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year , including 2,000 organized tourists .
On January 8 , Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev issued a directive to assess the safety of flights and tourism in the Middle East , his Spokesperson Oleg Osipov said .
The instructions were given to Deputy Prime Minister Maxim Akimov , Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov , Transport Minister Yevgeny Dietrich and Economic Development Minister Maxim Oreshkin .
Tensions around Iran flared up following a US drone strike at Baghdad International Airport , which killed General Qasem Soleimani , head of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards ’ elite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Iran retaliated by launching missile strikes on two military facilities in Iraq used by the United States .
According to the Pentagon ’ s spokesperson , the Al-Asad Air Base and the airport of Erbil were targeted .
A Boeing 737 belonging to Ukraine International Airlines carrying 180 passengers and crewmembers crashed in the Iranian capital of Tehran shortly after takeoff from the Imam Khomeini International Airport on Wednesday .
All people on board were killed , the Ukrainian Interior Ministry said .
According to the agency , the passenger jet , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ capital of Kiev , crashed reportedly due to technical problems .

MOSCOW, January 9. /TASS/. Russian nationals are not canceling trips to the Middle East against the backdrop of recommendations from the Russian Federal Agency for Air Transport for Russian carriers not to use the airspace of Iran and Iraq, Vice President of the Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR) Dmitry Gorin told TASS on Thursday.
On January 8, the federal agency advised Russian carriers against flying over Iran and Iraq, as well as over the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. With this in mind, the Russian Federal Agency for Tourism asked travel agencies to inform tourists promptly about changes in the timetable of flights.
"This does not affect [the demand]. There have been no trip cancellations. Moreover, we have already had a similar situation, when a decision was made to bypass Ukraine en route to Turkey," Gorin pointed out.
The United Arab Emirates is the most lucrative Middle Eastern destination for Russian tourists, he said. As for Iran, it is visited mainly by individual tourists, Gorin noted. According to him, about 16,000 people visited Iran last year, including 2,000 organized tourists.
Iran route jitters
On January 8, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev issued a directive to assess the safety of flights and tourism in the Middle East, his Spokesperson Oleg Osipov said. The instructions were given to Deputy Prime Minister Maxim Akimov, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Transport Minister Yevgeny Dietrich and Economic Development Minister Maxim Oreshkin.
Tensions around Iran flared up following a US drone strike at Baghdad International Airport, which killed General Qasem Soleimani, head of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards’ elite Quds Force. On January 8, Iran retaliated by launching missile strikes on two military facilities in Iraq used by the United States. According to the Pentagon’s spokesperson, the Al-Asad Air Base and the airport of Erbil were targeted.
A Boeing 737 belonging to Ukraine International Airlines carrying 180 passengers and crewmembers crashed in the Iranian capital of Tehran shortly after takeoff from the Imam Khomeini International Airport on Wednesday. All people on board were killed, the Ukrainian Interior Ministry said.
According to the agency, the passenger jet, which was headed from Tehran to the Ukrainian capital of Kiev, crashed reportedly due to technical problems.


tass--2020-01-09--Turkish top diplomat calls for preventing Iraq from becoming arena of confrontation

ANKARA , January 9 .
/TASS/ .
Ankara calls for preventing Iraq from turning into an arena of confrontation between @ @ @ @ @ Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said at a press conference in Baghdad on Thursday .
`` Turkey @ @ @ @ @ in order to overcome this dark period in the history of Iraq .
We call @ @ @ @ @ becoming an arena of confrontation between foreign powers , '' he pointed out .
According @ @ @ @ @ recent attacks on military bases in Iraq created serious issues in the region .
`` @

ANKARA, January 9. /TASS/. Ankara calls for preventing Iraq from turning into an arena of confrontation between foreign powers, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said at a press conference in Baghdad on Thursday.
"Turkey and Iraq will continue cooperating in order to overcome this dark period in the history of Iraq. We call for preventing our neighbor from becoming an arena of confrontation between foreign powers," he pointed out.
According to Cavusoglu, "the recent attacks on military bases in Iraq created serious issues in the region.".


tass--2020-01-09--Frigate Yaroslav Mudry escorts Russian ship across Gulf of Aden

KALININGRAD , January 9 .
/TASS/ .
The crew of the Russian frigate The Yaroslav Mudry is escorting a Russian @ @ @ @ @ of Aden , the Baltic Fleet ’ s press-service said in a news release on @ @ @ @ @ group of the Baltic Fleet ’ s Marines from The Yaroslav Mudry is on board @ @ @ @ @ reasons , '' the Baltic Fleet ’ s spokesman Roman Martov said .
In several @ @ @ @ @ will arrive at the designated area in the Red Sea , where another convoy of @ @ @ @ @ direction will begin to be formed .

KALININGRAD, January 9. /TASS/. The crew of the Russian frigate The Yaroslav Mudry is escorting a Russian ship across the piracy-prone Gulf of Aden, the Baltic Fleet’s press-service said in a news release on Thursday.
"An anti-terror group of the Baltic Fleet’s Marines from The Yaroslav Mudry is on board the civilian ship for security reasons," the Baltic Fleet’s spokesman Roman Martov said.
In several days’ time the convoy will arrive at the designated area in the Red Sea, where another convoy of ships going in the opposite direction will begin to be formed.


tass--2020-01-09--Putin emphasizes need to raise share of advanced weaponry in Russia’s Navy to 70%

SEVASTOPOL , January 9 .
/TASS/ .
There is a need to raise the share of advanced weaponry in Russia ’ s Navy to 70 % in the near future , President Vladimir Putin said at a meeting with senior officials from the Defense Ministry and the Navy ’ s General Command .
`` This is the level that we need to achieve and maintain , '' the president pointed out .
`` We will continue efforts to make sure that our navy has advanced equipment , '' Putin said , adding that issues concerning the Navy ’ s modernization @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defense meetings in December .
`` The agenda included ways to strengthen sea-based nuclear forces , '' he specified .
`` The Navy has always been important if not crucial for efforts to ensure national security .
In the 21st century , we need to maintain and strengthen our country ’ s role as one of the world ’ s leading maritime powers , '' Putin emphasized .
He added that special attention had been payed to the Navy ’ s development in the previous years and large amounts of money had been @ @ @ @ @

SEVASTOPOL, January 9. /TASS/. There is a need to raise the share of advanced weaponry in Russia’s Navy to 70% in the near future, President Vladimir Putin said at a meeting with senior officials from the Defense Ministry and the Navy’s General Command.
"This is the level that we need to achieve and maintain," the president pointed out.
"We will continue efforts to make sure that our navy has advanced equipment," Putin said, adding that issues concerning the Navy’s modernization had been considered at a series of defense meetings in December. "The agenda included ways to strengthen sea-based nuclear forces," he specified.
"The Navy has always been important if not crucial for efforts to ensure national security. In the 21st century, we need to maintain and strengthen our country’s role as one of the world’s leading maritime powers," Putin emphasized.
He added that special attention had been payed to the Navy’s development in the previous years and large amounts of money had been spent to that end.


tass--2020-01-09--Switzerland maintains communication channel between Iran, US

GENEVA , January 9 .
/TASS/ .
Switzerland , who represents the interests of the United States in Iran , has transmitted several messages through a diplomatic channel of communication between the two countries , Spokesman for the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs ( FDFA ) Pierre-Alain Eltschinger told TASS on Thursday .
`` The diplomatic communication channel between US and Iran that is provided by Switzerland in the framework of the protective power mandate continues to operate .
Switzerland confirms that several messages were transmitted through this channel , '' he said .
`` For reason of confidentiality @ @ @ @ @ @ @ further information , '' Eltschinger added .
The Financial Times wrote earlier , citing a source familiar with the matter , that `` the US and Iran had exchanged de-escalatory messages overnight through a Swiss back channel . ''
Tensions in the Middle East escalated following a US drone strike near Baghdad 's airport on January 3 , which killed General Qassem Soleimani , the head of Iran 's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps ' Quds Force .
Iran targeted Iraq ’ s Ain Al-Asad air base and a facility in Erbil , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the attack .
Following Iran ’ s strikes , US President Donald Trump said in an address to the nation that `` the United States will immediately impose additional punishing economic sanctions on the Iranian regime . ''
`` These powerful sanctions will remain until Iran changes its behavior , '' Trump pointed out , adding , however , that `` the United States is ready to embrace peace with all who seek it . ''
Iran ’ s Ambassador to the United Nations Majid Takht-Ravanchi , in turn , told TASS that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ terms of retaliation , and did not plan to take further military action .

GENEVA, January 9. /TASS/. Switzerland, who represents the interests of the United States in Iran, has transmitted several messages through a diplomatic channel of communication between the two countries, Spokesman for the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) Pierre-Alain Eltschinger told TASS on Thursday.
"The diplomatic communication channel between US and Iran that is provided by Switzerland in the framework of the protective power mandate continues to operate. Switzerland confirms that several messages were transmitted through this channel," he said. "For reason of confidentiality, the FDFA cannot give any further information," Eltschinger added.
The Financial Times wrote earlier, citing a source familiar with the matter, that "the US and Iran had exchanged de-escalatory messages overnight through a Swiss back channel."
Tensions in the Middle East escalated following a US drone strike near Baghdad's airport on January 3, which killed General Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' Quds Force. Iran targeted Iraq’s Ain Al-Asad air base and a facility in Erbil, which house US troops, in retaliation for the attack.
Following Iran’s strikes, US President Donald Trump said in an address to the nation that "the United States will immediately impose additional punishing economic sanctions on the Iranian regime." "These powerful sanctions will remain until Iran changes its behavior," Trump pointed out, adding, however, that "the United States is ready to embrace peace with all who seek it." Iran’s Ambassador to the United Nations Majid Takht-Ravanchi, in turn, told TASS that Tehran believed its response was enough in terms of retaliation, and did not plan to take further military action.


tass--2020-01-09--Britain’s new ambassador touches down in Moscow, embassy reports

MOSCOW , January 9./TASS/ .
The United Kingdom ’ s new Ambassador to Russia Deborah Bronnert has arrived in Moscow @ @ @ @ @ will present her credentials to President Vladimir Putin , the embassy said on its Telegram @ @ @ @ @ The newly appointed UK Ambassador to Russia , Deborah Bronnert , has arrived in Russia @ @ @ @ @ credentials to the Foreign Ministry and then to the Russian president , '' the message @ @ @ @ @ diplomatic mission , Bronnert had already worked in Moscow in the mid-2000s as Economic and @ @ @ @ @ to being appointed to the post of ambassador , she was Trustee of the British @ @ @ @ @ and Global Issues at the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office .
Deborah Bronnert is stepping @ @ @ @ @ as Ambassador to the Russian Federation .

MOSCOW, January 9./TASS/. The United Kingdom’s new Ambassador to Russia Deborah Bronnert has arrived in Moscow and in a short while will present her credentials to President Vladimir Putin, the embassy said on its Telegram channel on Thursday.
"The newly appointed UK Ambassador to Russia, Deborah Bronnert, has arrived in Russia and will shortly present her credentials to the Foreign Ministry and then to the Russian president," the message said.
According to the diplomatic mission, Bronnert had already worked in Moscow in the mid-2000s as Economic and Trade Counsellor, and prior to being appointed to the post of ambassador, she was Trustee of the British Council and Director-General, Economic and Global Issues at the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office.
Deborah Bronnert is stepping in to replace Laurie Bristow as Ambassador to the Russian Federation.


tass--2020-01-09--Jane’s: Global defense spending exceeds $1.8 trillion in 2019

`` Global defense spending surpasses $ 1.8 trillion in 2019 supported by robust growth in European markets , '' the publishing company says .
According to the annual report on changes in defense spending in 2019 released by Jane ’ s , the increase in world ’ s defense expenses slowed to 1 % from 6 % in 2018 .
Although growth slowed in most regions , `` Europe experienced exceptional growth of 5.2 % , outperforming most emerging markets .
Six of the ten fastest growing defense budgets in the world in 2019 were situated in Europe - including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ globally , with defense spending growing by 125 % as the country made payment for eight F-16 Block-70 fighter jets in August , '' Jane ’ s reports .
`` While growth in global defense spending slowed dramatically this year , Jane ’ s projects that global spending growth will moderate to between 1.5-2.0 % a year over the next ten years , '' said Fenella McGerty , a defense and security analyst at Jane ’ s .
She noted that the upsurge would depend on maintaining a solid focus on defense in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more robust growth rates in emerging markets .
According to the publication , Russia ’ s defense budget totaled $ 48 bln [ at the dollar exchange rate in 2019 ] last year , up $ 1 bln in annual terms .
Russia ranked eighth among the top ten countries in terms of defense spending in 2018 and 2019 .
The United States leads the list of the top ten countries with the largest defense budgets ( $ 726 bln ) , followed by China ( $ 217 bln ) , Saudi Arabia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( $ 57 bln ) , the United Kingdom ( $ 56 bln ) , France ( $ 53 bln ) , Germany ( $ 48 bln ) , Russia ( $ 48 bln ) , Japan ( $ 45 bln ) , and South Korea ( $ 41 bln ) .

LONDON, January 9. /TASS/. Global defense expenditures soared past $1.8 trillion in 2019, Jane’s defense consultancy reported on Thursday.
"Global defense spending surpasses $1.8 trillion in 2019 supported by robust growth in European markets," the publishing company says.
According to the annual report on changes in defense spending in 2019 released by Jane’s, the increase in world’s defense expenses slowed to 1% from 6% in 2018.
Although growth slowed in most regions, "Europe experienced exceptional growth of 5.2%, outperforming most emerging markets. Six of the ten fastest growing defense budgets in the world in 2019 were situated in Europe - including Bulgaria, which reported the fastest growth globally, with defense spending growing by 125% as the country made payment for eight F-16 Block-70 fighter jets in August," Jane’s reports.
"While growth in global defense spending slowed dramatically this year, Jane’s projects that global spending growth will moderate to between 1.5-2.0% a year over the next ten years," said Fenella McGerty, a defense and security analyst at Jane’s. She noted that the upsurge would depend on maintaining a solid focus on defense in Europe but also on a return to more robust growth rates in emerging markets.
According to the publication, Russia’s defense budget totaled $48 bln [at the dollar exchange rate in 2019] last year, up $1 bln in annual terms. Russia ranked eighth among the top ten countries in terms of defense spending in 2018 and 2019.
The United States leads the list of the top ten countries with the largest defense budgets ($726 bln), followed by China ($217 bln), Saudi Arabia ($57 bln), India ($57 bln), the United Kingdom ($56 bln), France ($53 bln), Germany ($48 bln), Russia ($48 bln), Japan ($45 bln), and South Korea ($41 bln).


tass--2020-01-09--US sacrifices strategic interests in Middle East in standoff with Iran, says analyst

The expert believes that strategically the United States will promptly ruin its own positions in the Middle East and undermine the European countries ’ trust towards NATO BRUSSELS , January 9 .
/TASS/ .
The US has achieved a tactical victory in the Middle East , but at the same time sacrificed its strategic interests in the region and in Europe , analyst Frank Leblanc , of the EastWest Institute told TASS on Thursday .
`` It will be correct to say that the US has achieved a tactical victory in its standoff with Iran .
In other words , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who is beginning a re-election campaign , '' Leblanc said , adding , though , that Washington ’ s strategic losses `` by far outweigh any tactical bonuses . ''
`` A senior [ Iranian ] military commander and specialist in subversive operations has been eliminated .
If Washington is to be believed , Soleimani posed a real threat to Americans in the region .
Iran ’ s military retaliation caused no tangible damage to the US , while the political one — actual termination of compliance with the terms of the nuclear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effect of Washington ’ s efforts to ruin the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action .
In the current conditions the European countries , Russia and China will find it far harder to breathe a new life into the JCPOA and to resist the United States ’ extraterritorial sanctions in this sphere , '' Leblanc speculated .
`` Iran ’ s missile strike against Iraqi territory weakens the trend towards a rapprochement between the two countries and is capable of shattering Baghdad ’ s determination to demand the pullout of foreign forces .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the horrors of the Iran-Iraq war of [ 1980-1988 — TASS ] .
Lastly , US President Donald Trump , who was the first to declare his readiness to ease tensions , now positions himself as a peacemaker , '' Leblanc said .
At the same time Leblanc voiced fear that in an attempt to achieve quick results `` Washington jeopardized strategic US interests , '' which may `` outweigh by far any bonuses from this adventure . ''
Firstly , Iran , where the central authorities ’ influence waned noticeably over the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ powerful upsurge of patriotic sentiment and consolidation in the face of an external threat , which reduces to nothing the US hopes for possible changes in the Iranian leadership .
Secondly , in the wake of General Soleimani ’ s killing anti-US sentiment soared in the whole Shi ’ ite community in the Middle East .
Leblanc stressed the fact that Soleimani ’ s elimination drew no support from the United States ’ chief ally in the region — Sunni Saudi Arabia — which fears becoming a target of Iran ’ s retaliatory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forced the Iraqi authorities to strongly demand the pullout of foreign troops , and , `` although the odds are Baghdad will fail to achieve this , a heavy blow has been dealt on the US-led coalition in the Middle East , which last year lost a foothold in Syria . ''
Fourthly , the United States has greatly complicated its relations with NATO partners , Leblanc claims .
`` Washington has received no political or military support from the alliance for its actions against Iran .
Moreover , some NATO countries have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their mission in Baghdad to calmer countries .
`` Even the political victory achieved in eliminating the JCPOA will have only a short-term effect .
The United States ’ ultimate aim was to not just eliminate this agreement , but to force Iran into accepting another one , which would impose harsher restrictions on its nuclear program and also limit Tehran ’ s missile research and regional ambitions .
Implementing this plan now will be extremely difficult .
The US may forget about getting support from Russia and China and , with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ EU countries , too , '' he said .
Leblanc believes that strategically the United States will promptly ruin its own positions in the Middle East and undermine the European countries ’ trust towards NATO , whose US-dictated policies ever more often fail to give them greater security and also run counter to the Old World ’ s political and economic interests .
`` NATO members can not but feel unhappy about the current state of affairs in the alliance .
Their criticism keeps growing together with the ‘ membership dues ’ [ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ members ’ military budgets to 2 % of their GDP — TASS ] , '' Leblanc concluded .
The situation in the Middle East aggravated sharply in the wake of an overnight US missile strike near Baghdad ’ s airport on January 3 , which killed the commander of the Quds Force , an elite unit of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards , Qasem Soleimani .
In retaliation Tehran on January 8 carried out a night-time missile strike against two facilities in Iraq , being used by the US military — Ayn al-Asad airbase @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump declared that Washington would instantly tighten economic sanctions against Tehran .
At the same time he remarked that the US was prepared for peace with Iran .
Iran ’ s permanent representative to the UN , Majid Takht Ravanchi , told TASS Tehran believed that its retaliation was proportionate and had no intention of taking further military action .

The expert believes that strategically the United States will promptly ruin its own positions in the Middle East and undermine the European countries’ trust towards NATO
BRUSSELS, January 9. /TASS/. The US has achieved a tactical victory in the Middle East, but at the same time sacrificed its strategic interests in the region and in Europe, analyst Frank Leblanc, of the EastWest Institute told TASS on Thursday. "It will be correct to say that the US has achieved a tactical victory in its standoff with Iran. In other words, an electoral success for the incumbent, who is beginning a re-election campaign," Leblanc said, adding, though, that Washington’s strategic losses "by far outweigh any tactical bonuses."
Read also Iran seeking to reinforce nuclear deal, says president
"A senior [Iranian] military commander and specialist in subversive operations has been eliminated. If Washington is to be believed, Soleimani posed a real threat to Americans in the region. Iran’s military retaliation caused no tangible damage to the US, while the political one — actual termination of compliance with the terms of the nuclear deal — in fact is the net effect of Washington’s efforts to ruin the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. In the current conditions the European countries, Russia and China will find it far harder to breathe a new life into the JCPOA and to resist the United States’ extraterritorial sanctions in this sphere," Leblanc speculated. "Iran’s missile strike against Iraqi territory weakens the trend towards a rapprochement between the two countries and is capable of shattering Baghdad’s determination to demand the pullout of foreign forces. It may be interpreted as a reminder of the horrors of the Iran-Iraq war of [1980-1988 — TASS]. Lastly, US President Donald Trump, who was the first to declare his readiness to ease tensions, now positions himself as a peacemaker," Leblanc said. Strategic setback At the same time Leblanc voiced fear that in an attempt to achieve quick results "Washington jeopardized strategic US interests," which may "outweigh by far any bonuses from this adventure." Firstly, Iran, where the central authorities’ influence waned noticeably over the past few months, has seen a powerful upsurge of patriotic sentiment and consolidation in the face of an external threat, which reduces to nothing the US hopes for possible changes in the Iranian leadership. Secondly, in the wake of General Soleimani’s killing anti-US sentiment soared in the whole Shi’ite community in the Middle East. Leblanc stressed the fact that Soleimani’s elimination drew no support from the United States’ chief ally in the region — Sunni Saudi Arabia — which fears becoming a target of Iran’s retaliatory strikes.
Read also Pressure on Iran may soar amid speculations about external causes for plane crash — expert
Thirdly, this operation has forced the Iraqi authorities to strongly demand the pullout of foreign troops, and, "although the odds are Baghdad will fail to achieve this, a heavy blow has been dealt on the US-led coalition in the Middle East, which last year lost a foothold in Syria." Fourthly, the United States has greatly complicated its relations with NATO partners, Leblanc claims. "Washington has received no political or military support from the alliance for its actions against Iran. Moreover, some NATO countries have already begun to relocate the personnel of their mission in Baghdad to calmer countries. "Even the political victory achieved in eliminating the JCPOA will have only a short-term effect. The United States’ ultimate aim was to not just eliminate this agreement, but to force Iran into accepting another one, which would impose harsher restrictions on its nuclear program and also limit Tehran’s missile research and regional ambitions. Implementing this plan now will be extremely difficult. The US may forget about getting support from Russia and China and, with a high degree of probability, from the EU countries, too," he said.
Leblanc believes that strategically the United States will promptly ruin its own positions in the Middle East and undermine the European countries’ trust towards NATO, whose US-dictated policies ever more often fail to give them greater security and also run counter to the Old World’s political and economic interests. "NATO members cannot but feel unhappy about the current state of affairs in the alliance. Their criticism keeps growing together with the ‘membership dues’ [Washington’s demand for increasing NATO members’ military budgets to 2% of their GDP — TASS]," Leblanc concluded. Crisis The situation in the Middle East aggravated sharply in the wake of an overnight US missile strike near Baghdad’s airport on January 3, which killed the commander of the Quds Force, an elite unit of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, Qasem Soleimani. In retaliation Tehran on January 8 carried out a night-time missile strike against two facilities in Iraq, being used by the US military — Ayn al-Asad airbase and Erbil Airport.
Read also Trump: US imposes new tough economic sanctions against Iran


tass--2020-01-09--Putin thanks crew of Marshal Ustinov cruiser for their service

SEVASTOPOL , January 9 .
/TASS/ .
Russian President Vladimir Putin has thanked the crew of the Marshal Ustinov cruiser for their service in a message left in the vessel ’ s guest book .
Earlier on Thursday , Putin oversaw the joint drills of Russia ’ s Black Sea and Northern Fleets from the Russian cruiser Marshal Ustinov belonging to the Northern Fleet .
During the ship ’ s return to Sevastopol , Putin had a conversation with the Marshal Ustinov officers .
He thanked the crew for their service and for their part in the successful drills .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a long time , seven months .
You must miss home , but you will be back soon .
I wish you all the best .
Thank you for today , until next time , '' Putin said .
The Marshal Ustinov cruiser left the base in Russia 's Severomorsk on July 3 , 2019 .
It took part in the Navy Parade in St. Petersburg and fulfilled several objectives in the Mediterranean Sea .
After that , the cruiser took part in the joint drills with China and South Africa in Cape @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the joint exercises with the Russian Black Sea Fleet .
`` Happy New Year 2020 and congratulations on the successful drills .
I wish you good luck .
Thank you for your service ! ''
Putin wrote in the vessel ’ s guest book .
On Thursday , Russia ’ s Black Sea Fleet and Northern Fleet held joint drills in the Black Sea , during which they practiced the launch of the Kalibr cruise missiles and the hypersonic air-launched ballistic missile Kinzhal .
Over 30 ships , 1 submarine and over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ took part in the drills .
During the drills , two Mig-31K fighters practiced target firing using the Kinzhal ballistic missile .
Crews of the Admiral Grigorovich frigate , small missile ship Orekhovo-Zuyevo and submarine Kolpino practiced the launch of the Kalibr missiles .

SEVASTOPOL, January 9. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has thanked the crew of the Marshal Ustinov cruiser for their service in a message left in the vessel’s guest book.
Earlier on Thursday, Putin oversaw the joint drills of Russia’s Black Sea and Northern Fleets from the Russian cruiser Marshal Ustinov belonging to the Northern Fleet.
During the ship’s return to Sevastopol, Putin had a conversation with the Marshal Ustinov officers. He thanked the crew for their service and for their part in the successful drills. "You have been at sea for a long time, seven months. You must miss home, but you will be back soon. I wish you all the best. Thank you for today, until next time," Putin said.
The Marshal Ustinov cruiser left the base in Russia's Severomorsk on July 3, 2019. It took part in the Navy Parade in St. Petersburg and fulfilled several objectives in the Mediterranean Sea. After that, the cruiser took part in the joint drills with China and South Africa in Cape Town, proceeding to the Black Sea for the joint exercises with the Russian Black Sea Fleet.
"Happy New Year 2020 and congratulations on the successful drills. I wish you good luck. Thank you for your service!" Putin wrote in the vessel’s guest book.
On Thursday, Russia’s Black Sea Fleet and Northern Fleet held joint drills in the Black Sea, during which they practiced the launch of the Kalibr cruise missiles and the hypersonic air-launched ballistic missile Kinzhal. Over 30 ships, 1 submarine and over 40 aircrafts of the Russian Aerospace Forces took part in the drills. During the drills, two Mig-31K fighters practiced target firing using the Kinzhal ballistic missile. Crews of the Admiral Grigorovich frigate, small missile ship Orekhovo-Zuyevo and submarine Kolpino practiced the launch of the Kalibr missiles.


tass--2020-01-09--Super apps, artificial intelligence make main 2020 IT trends in Russia — experts

According to experts , an important consumer IT trend in Russia in 2020 may be the growing interest of users to pay for video content by subscription MOSCOW , January 9 .
/TASS/ .
Super apps , cloud gaming , artificial intelligence and the growing consumption of paid video content will determine the trends in the IT sphere in Russia in 2020 , experts told TASS .
Experts call the emergence of super apps — applications that combine services such as instant messaging , ordering food and transport , payment tools , e-commerce — one of the main trends of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( using Vkontakte app ) , as well as Tinkoff Bank and Sberbank primarily oversee the development of such ecosystems .
`` Tinkoff and other companies are now catching up ; in 2019 super apps became a full-fledged trend and will continue to develop .
First of all , such products will appear in companies with developed ecosystems of their own services : banks , telecom operators , etc.
, '' Dmitry Ryabinin from Hi-Tech Mail.ru said .
Other IT market players in Russia , including Sberbank and Yandex , will also try @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leading analyst of the Russian Association for Electronic Communications ( RAEC ) Karen Kazaryan believes .
However , so far the popularity of such apps in Russia is doubtful , he added .
`` I ’ m afraid that companies will [ try to launch super apps ] largely misunderstanding why exactly Asian super apps are successful and how they have built systems , replacing all parts of the usual mobile ecosystem .
I don ’ t believe in their popularity in Russia , '' he explained .
Another IT trend in Russia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Thus , the government is discussing setting up a federal project within Digital Economy national project to develop AI .
In addition , the Russian president earlier approved the National Development Strategy for Artificial Intelligence until 2030 .
`` In 2020 , the tendency to automate routine processes using AI will continue and strengthen .
A separate very relevant trend for Russia is the impact of AI on the labor market .
Companies want to be digital , they need people for this who can work in a digital environment with digital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be able to evaluate digital skills and to upgrade them , '' Dmitry Ryabinin elaborated .
In Russia , as well as globally , cloud gaming technology , which allows to stream games to lower end computers , was given a boost in 2019 .
Google , Sony and Nvidia are engaged in the development of the technology worldwide , whereas in Russia it is applied only by MTS , Megafon , Beeline , and Rostelecom .
According to Yaroslav Meshalkin , director of strategic communications at ESforce eSports holding , cloud @ @ @ @ @ @ @ industry trend , but it is part of a more global trend when complex technical operations are assigned to `` clouds '' rather than `` hardware . ''
`` 5G , ‘ cloud ’ — this is what telecom operators around the world are betting on , and efforts in these areas should be justified .
According to SuperData , global gaming revenues amounted to $ 109.4 bln by the end of 2019 , showing constant growth over the past few years , so the desire to enter this industry through the ‘ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Meshalkin is sure .
According to experts , another important consumer IT trend in Russia in 2020 may be the growing interest of users to pay for video content by subscription .
In 2019 , the online cinema Okko ( owned by the Rambler Group ) and Yandex bought the rights to broadcast popular sporting events — English Premier League and NHL matches .
This marked the beginning of a trend that will be observed in the future , experts believe .
`` The trend for purchasing content that was previously exclusive for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other companies are trying to take live TV ’ s place .
The current pace will continue , unless something changes in regulation .
For example , limitations for Western services will be in place , or on the contrary , Russian TV channels will decide to play a monopoly with Internet content , '' Karen Kazaryan said .
Head of the Content Review information and analytical agency Sergei Polovnikov added that in 2020 Russian companies — Rambler Group , Kinopoisk , Amediateka and others — may produce their own content in order @ @ @ @ @ @ @ audience from services like Netflix and continue to wean Russians off pirated content .
`` Direct contracts of Russian companies with such majors as Universal Pictures , Fox and Disney are not ruled out to narrow the window between distribution and digital releases of movies , '' Polovnikov added .

According to experts, an important consumer IT trend in Russia in 2020 may be the growing interest of users to pay for video content by subscription
MOSCOW, January 9. /TASS/. Super apps, cloud gaming, artificial intelligence and the growing consumption of paid video content will determine the trends in the IT sphere in Russia in 2020, experts told TASS. Experts call the emergence of super apps — applications that combine services such as instant messaging, ordering food and transport, payment tools, e-commerce — one of the main trends of 2020. In Russia, Mail.Ru Group (using Vkontakte app), as well as Tinkoff Bank and Sberbank primarily oversee the development of such ecosystems. "Tinkoff and other companies are now catching up; in 2019 super apps became a full-fledged trend and will continue to develop. First of all, such products will appear in companies with developed ecosystems of their own services: banks, telecom operators, etc.," Dmitry Ryabinin from Hi-Tech Mail.ru said.
Other IT market players in Russia, including Sberbank and Yandex, will also try to launch their own super apps, leading analyst of the Russian Association for Electronic Communications (RAEC) Karen Kazaryan believes. However, so far the popularity of such apps in Russia is doubtful, he added. "I’m afraid that companies will [try to launch super apps] largely misunderstanding why exactly Asian super apps are successful and how they have built systems, replacing all parts of the usual mobile ecosystem. I don’t believe in their popularity in Russia," he explained. Another IT trend in Russia will be artificial intelligence, experts presume. Thus, the government is discussing setting up a federal project within Digital Economy national project to develop AI. In addition, the Russian president earlier approved the National Development Strategy for Artificial Intelligence until 2030. "In 2020, the tendency to automate routine processes using AI will continue and strengthen. A separate very relevant trend for Russia is the impact of AI on the labor market. Companies want to be digital, they need people for this who can work in a digital environment with digital tools, so it’s important to be able to evaluate digital skills and to upgrade them," Dmitry Ryabinin elaborated. Cloud gaming and video streaming In Russia, as well as globally, cloud gaming technology, which allows to stream games to lower end computers, was given a boost in 2019. Google, Sony and Nvidia are engaged in the development of the technology worldwide, whereas in Russia it is applied only by MTS, Megafon, Beeline, and Rostelecom.
Read also Runet law developed to prevent cutting Russia from Internet — Putin


tass--2020-01-09--Putin oversees drills of Russia’s Northern and Black Sea Fleets in Crimea

SEVASTOPOL , January 9 .
/TASS/ .
Russian President and Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Armed Forces Vladimir Putin has @ @ @ @ @ Russia ’ s Black Sea and Northern Fleets from the Russian cruiser Marshal Ustinov belonging @ @ @ @ @ On Thursday , Russia ’ s Black Sea Fleet and Northern Fleet have held joint @ @ @ @ @ , during which they practiced the launch of the Kalibr cruise missiles and the hypersonic @ @ @ @ @ Over 30 ships , 1 submarine and over 40 aircrafts of the Russian Aerospace Forces @ @ @ @ @ .
`` The drills have been held successfully , '' Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy @ @ @ @ @ on the outcomes of the exercises .
Putin gave the order to terminate the drills @ @ @ @ @ two Mig-31K fighters practiced target firing using the Kinzhal ballistic missile .
Crews of the @ @ @ @ @ missile ship Orekhovo-Zuyevo and submarine Kolpino practiced the launch of the Kalibr missiles .

SEVASTOPOL, January 9. /TASS/. Russian President and Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Armed Forces Vladimir Putin has overseen the joint drills of Russia’s Black Sea and Northern Fleets from the Russian cruiser Marshal Ustinov belonging to the Northern Fleet.
On Thursday, Russia’s Black Sea Fleet and Northern Fleet have held joint drills in the Black Sea, during which they practiced the launch of the Kalibr cruise missiles and the hypersonic air-launched ballistic missile Kinzhal. Over 30 ships, 1 submarine and over 40 aircrafts of the Russian Aerospace Forces took part in the drills.
"The drills have been held successfully," Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy Admiral Nikolai Yevmenov informed Putin on the outcomes of the exercises. Putin gave the order to terminate the drills.
During the drills, two Mig-31K fighters practiced target firing using the Kinzhal ballistic missile. Crews of the Admiral Grigorovich frigate, small missile ship Orekhovo-Zuyevo and submarine Kolpino practiced the launch of the Kalibr missiles.


tass--2020-01-10--Newly appointed French ambassador to arrive in Russia next week — embassy

MOSCOW , January 10 .
/TASS/ .
The newly appointed French Ambassador to Moscow Pierre Levy will arrive in Russia @ @ @ @ @ diplomatic mission informed TASS on Friday .
`` The French Council of Ministers has confirmed @ @ @ @ @ to Russia last week .
We expect his arrival next week , '' the embassy @ @ @ @ @ French Ambassador to Moscow Sylvie Bermann , who completed her diplomatic mission to Russia in @ @ @ @ @ as French Ambassador to Poland from August 2 , 2016 until January 6 , 2020 @

MOSCOW, January 10. /TASS/. The newly appointed French Ambassador to Moscow Pierre Levy will arrive in Russia next week, the French diplomatic mission informed TASS on Friday.
"The French Council of Ministers has confirmed the appointment of Pierre Levy to Russia last week. We expect his arrival next week," the embassy said.
Levy will succeed French Ambassador to Moscow Sylvie Bermann, who completed her diplomatic mission to Russia in December 2019.
Levy served as French Ambassador to Poland from August 2, 2016 until January 6, 2020.


tass--2020-01-10--Russia’s Nordwind Airlines plane makes hard landing in Antalya

MOSCOW , January 10 .
/TASS/ .
A passenger aircraft belonging to Russia ’ s Nordwind Airlines traveling from Moscow @ @ @ @ @ in Antalya on Friday , Turkish portal Airporthaber informed .
According to the website , @ @ @ @ @ tail number VQ-BRS requested emergency landing in Antalya due to detection of smoke .
During @ @ @ @ @ the plane ’ s landing wheels hit the fuselage , deforming it .
The portal @ @ @ @ @ damaged part of the plane .
There has been no information on casualties or injuries @ @ @

MOSCOW, January 10. /TASS/. A passenger aircraft belonging to Russia’s Nordwind Airlines traveling from Moscow has performed a hard landing in Antalya on Friday, Turkish portal Airporthaber informed.
According to the website, pilots of aircraft A321-200 with tail number VQ-BRS requested emergency landing in Antalya due to detection of smoke. During the landing, one of the plane’s landing wheels hit the fuselage, deforming it. The portal published a photograph of the damaged part of the plane.
Later, the Russian Consulate General in Antalya informed TASS that there were no passengers on the plane. "According to the information provided by the local office of Nordwind in Antalya, we confirm that a plane belonging to this company has performed a hard landing. It was flying without passengers, there have been no injuries. Only the plane suffered technical damage," the source stated.


tass--2020-01-10--Recorders recovered from Ukrainian plane’s wreckage in Iran to be opened on January 10

TEHRAN , January 10 .
/TASS/ .
The cockpit voice and flight data recorders , recovered from the Ukrainian plane @ @ @ @ @ will be opened on January 10 , the chief of the Incidents Investigation Board of @ @ @ @ @ Organization , Hassan Rezaiefar , told the media on Friday .
`` The black boxes @ @ @ @ @ be opened at the laboratory of Mehrabad Airport , '' the news agency IRNA quotes @ @ @ @ @ If Iran fails to extract information , with the aim of preventing damage to information @ @ @ @ @ Russia , France , Canada or Ukraine to analyze the black boxes . ''

TEHRAN, January 10. /TASS/. The cockpit voice and flight data recorders, recovered from the Ukrainian plane crash site in Iran, will be opened on January 10, the chief of the Incidents Investigation Board of Iran’s Civil Aviation Organization, Hassan Rezaiefar, told the media on Friday.
"The black boxes of the Ukrainian plane will be opened at the laboratory of Mehrabad Airport," the news agency IRNA quotes Rezaiefar as saying. "If Iran fails to extract information, with the aim of preventing damage to information it will request help from Russia, France, Canada or Ukraine to analyze the black boxes."


tass--2020-01-10--Abkhaz security official says protesters snatched weapons from presidential staff building

“ There was a break-in at the armory [ in the presidential administration building ] and almost all weapons storage cabinets have been pried open… According to our information , a certain amount [ of weapons ] that got into their hands from there is currently in their possession , ” he said .
He added that some protesters had weapons on them when they stormed the building on Thursday , but , they did not use any .
Kilba noted that law enforcement officers who ensure order in the center of the city are “ unarmed on principle.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ January 9 when protesters gathered outside the president ’ s office demanding his resignation and stormed the building .
After a session of Abkhazia ’ s Security Council , chaired by President Raul Khajimba , he appealed to the citizens , urging them not to yield to incitement and provocations , but to stay calm .
He did not rule out , however , that a state of emergency could be declared in the country amid the developments in the capital city of Sukhum .
The Abkhaz parliament later convened for an urgent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president asking him to step down .
Khajimba , in turn , called on the opposition to sit down at the negotiating table and pointed out that the parliament ’ s move can lead to the situation worsening even further .
On Friday morning , protesters again flocked to the square in front of the presidential office .
The building remains under their control .

“There was a break-in at the armory [in the presidential administration building] and almost all weapons storage cabinets have been pried open… According to our information, a certain amount [of weapons] that got into their hands from there is currently in their possession,” he said.
He added that some protesters had weapons on them when they stormed the building on Thursday, but, they did not use any. Kilba noted that law enforcement officers who ensure order in the center of the city are “unarmed on principle.”
Abkhazia plunged into a political crisis on January 9 when protesters gathered outside the president’s office demanding his resignation and stormed the building. After a session of Abkhazia’s Security Council, chaired by President Raul Khajimba, he appealed to the citizens, urging them not to yield to incitement and provocations, but to stay calm. He did not rule out, however, that a state of emergency could be declared in the country amid the developments in the capital city of Sukhum. The Abkhaz parliament later convened for an urgent meeting to adopt an appeal to the president asking him to step down. Khajimba, in turn, called on the opposition to sit down at the negotiating table and pointed out that the parliament’s move can lead to the situation worsening even further.
On Friday morning, protesters again flocked to the square in front of the presidential office. The building remains under their control.


tass--2020-01-10--Russian Black Sea Fleet sub to undergo repairs after Mediterranean deployment

`` The submarine is expected to arrive at the Kronstadt Marine Plant in late January , '' the source specified .
Later , the Black Sea Fleet ’ s same-type submarine Krasnodar will arrive at the shipyard for repairs , the source added .
MOSCOW , January 10 .
/TASS/ .
The Black Sea Fleet submarine Stary Oskol will arrive at the Kronstadt Marine Plant in January for planned repairs after its deployment in the Russian Navy ’ s permanent Mediterranean taskforce , a source in Crimean defense circles told TASS on Friday .
The Admiralty Shipyard in St. Petersburg @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and fourth submarines from the series of six Project 636.3 subs built for the Black Sea Fleet .
Both the Admiralty Shipyard , which builds Project 636.3 subs and the Kronstadt Marine Plant are part of Russia ’ s United Shipbuilding Corporation .
In late April , the Krasnodar and the Stary Oskol passed through the Black Sea into the Mediterranean , replacing the same-type submarines Veliky Novgorod and Kolpino in the Russian Navy ’ s squadron in that area .
The latter submarines operated off the coasts of Syria for a year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their crews took place every three months .
The fifth and sixth submarines of this Project stayed in the Mediterranean Sea after their inter-fleet passage from the Baltic Sea .
The first planned repairs of the first , second , fifth and sixth submarines of this series have already been performed or will be carried out at the Sevastopol Marine Plant ( a branch of the Zvyozdochka Ship Repair Center ) .
The Admiralty Shipyard has built a series of six Project 636.3 diesel-electric submarines for the Black Sea Fleet .
Three of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kolpino and the Rostov-on-Don , numerously delivered strikes with Kalibr-PL cruise missiles against terrorist targets in Syria .
Project 636.3 submarines are referred to the third generation of diesel-electric subs .
These submarines are considered among the world ’ s most noiseless vessels .
They develop a speed of up to 20 knots , can dive to a depth of about 300 meters and their sea endurance is 45 days .
The sub has a crew of 52 men and displaces about 4,000 tonnes .

"The submarine is expected to arrive at the Kronstadt Marine Plant in late January," the source specified. Later, the Black Sea Fleet’s same-type submarine Krasnodar will arrive at the shipyard for repairs, the source added.
MOSCOW, January 10. /TASS/. The Black Sea Fleet submarine Stary Oskol will arrive at the Kronstadt Marine Plant in January for planned repairs after its deployment in the Russian Navy’s permanent Mediterranean taskforce, a source in Crimean defense circles told TASS on Friday.
The Admiralty Shipyard in St. Petersburg was earlier expected to repair the third and fourth submarines from the series of six Project 636.3 subs built for the Black Sea Fleet. Both the Admiralty Shipyard, which builds Project 636.3 subs and the Kronstadt Marine Plant are part of Russia’s United Shipbuilding Corporation.
In late April, the Krasnodar and the Stary Oskol passed through the Black Sea into the Mediterranean, replacing the same-type submarines Veliky Novgorod and Kolpino in the Russian Navy’s squadron in that area. The latter submarines operated off the coasts of Syria for a year and a half. The rotation of their crews took place every three months. The fifth and sixth submarines of this Project stayed in the Mediterranean Sea after their inter-fleet passage from the Baltic Sea.
The first planned repairs of the first, second, fifth and sixth submarines of this series have already been performed or will be carried out at the Sevastopol Marine Plant (a branch of the Zvyozdochka Ship Repair Center).
The Admiralty Shipyard has built a series of six Project 636.3 diesel-electric submarines for the Black Sea Fleet. Three of them, the Veliky Novgorod, the Kolpino and the Rostov-on-Don, numerously delivered strikes with Kalibr-PL cruise missiles against terrorist targets in Syria.
Project 636.3 submarines are referred to the third generation of diesel-electric subs. These submarines are considered among the world’s most noiseless vessels. They develop a speed of up to 20 knots, can dive to a depth of about 300 meters and their sea endurance is 45 days. The sub has a crew of 52 men and displaces about 4,000 tonnes.


tass--2020-01-10--Archaeologists discover campsite of ancient fishermen in Moscow

`` The discovered ceramic pieces can indicate that a camp of ancient fishermen could have been here long ago .
Experts are now looking into this theory , '' the press service quoted the department ’ s head Alexei Yemelyanov as saying .
MOSCOW , January 10 .
/TASS/ .
Russian archaeologists have stumbled upon a rare discovery during excavations in downtown Moscow , finding shards of molded ceramic vessels decorated with ornaments characteristic of later stages of the Neolithic period ’ s Lyalovo culture ( 4,000-3,000 BC ) .
The fascinating relics of the past unearthed on the grounds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a campsite inhabited by ancient fishermen could have existed there , the press service for Moscow ’ s Department of Cultural Heritage told TASS on Thursday .
It is pointed out that the fragments were discovered in sedimentary layers formed in repeated Moskva River overflows .
`` It is premature to make judgements whether the materials are of local decent or were washed ashore by the water , '' the press service added .
Yemelyanov underscored that archaeologists had been working at the Moscow Orphanage excavation site since November 2019 , discovering more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ period between the 12th and 20th centuries — cosmetics jars , horseshoes , stove tiles , bullets , arrowhead , baptismal crosses and other objects .
According to the data available on Moscow ’ s mayor and government website , the Moscow Orphanage or Foundling Home was established on September 1 , 1763 by Russian Empress Catherine the Great .
The building is included in the list of cultural heritage sites of federal importance .
The architectural ensemble will be renovated in the coming years , while scientists are studying the historic buildings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Architect Karl Blank drafted the master plan for the building that took almost two centuries to be completed .

"The discovered ceramic pieces can indicate that a camp of ancient fishermen could have been here long ago. Experts are now looking into this theory," the press service quoted the department’s head Alexei Yemelyanov as saying.
MOSCOW, January 10. /TASS/. Russian archaeologists have stumbled upon a rare discovery during excavations in downtown Moscow, finding shards of molded ceramic vessels decorated with ornaments characteristic of later stages of the Neolithic period’s Lyalovo culture (4,000-3,000 BC). The fascinating relics of the past unearthed on the grounds of the former Moscow Orphanage reveal that a campsite inhabited by ancient fishermen could have existed there, the press service for Moscow’s Department of Cultural Heritage told TASS on Thursday.
It is pointed out that the fragments were discovered in sedimentary layers formed in repeated Moskva River overflows. "It is premature to make judgements whether the materials are of local decent or were washed ashore by the water," the press service added.
Yemelyanov underscored that archaeologists had been working at the Moscow Orphanage excavation site since November 2019, discovering more than 900 artefacts dating back to the period between the 12th and 20th centuries — cosmetics jars, horseshoes, stove tiles, bullets, arrowhead, baptismal crosses and other objects.
According to the data available on Moscow’s mayor and government website, the Moscow Orphanage or Foundling Home was established on September 1, 1763 by Russian Empress Catherine the Great. The building is included in the list of cultural heritage sites of federal importance. The architectural ensemble will be renovated in the coming years, while scientists are studying the historic buildings, premises and the adjacent grounds. Architect Karl Blank drafted the master plan for the building that took almost two centuries to be completed.