tass--2020-05-15--Press review: Microsoft’s ‘free’ offer to Russia and EU’s stance on Iran arms embargo

Berlin and Paris support the removal of the Iran arms embargo in October , though cautiously , officials from the German and French foreign ministries told Izvestia .
A Russian senator , in turn , pointed out that there was no reason to extend the embargo .
A ban on Iranian arms exports and imports was included in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action ( JCPOA ) in 2015 .
According to the document , Iran needs the UN Security Council 's approval to buy and sell weapons .
In fact , it turned into an arms embargo because the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ permanent member of the UN Security Council .
The embargo is set to expire in October 2020 but the United States intends to make sure that it is extended .
Washington insists that despite its withdrawal from the nuclear deal , UN Security Council Resolution 2231 makes it clear that the US still is one of the deal ’ s participants and has the right to invoke a snapback mechanism within the JCPOA .
Moscow does not agree with such an approach .
Chairman of the Russian Federation Council Foreign Affairs Committee Konstantin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s pressure .
He said that the US continued to demonize Iran and blackmail UN Security Council members .
`` Moscow will never take action beyond the Security Council 's resolutions but likewise , Russia will never encourage actions that violate these resolutions , '' the senator pointed out .
Meanwhile , if Washington fails to extend the arms embargo , there is a good chance that it will impose sanctions on countries selling weapons to Iran , PIR Center expert Andrei Baklitsky said .
According to him , the US won @ @ @ @ @ @ @ laws to do it because the current US sanctions on Tehran already include all the measures that it may need .
`` If you decide to sell weapons to Iran , you will have to establish financial relations with Iran ’ s Central Bank , and this will automatically fall under US sanctions , as well as deals with Iran ’ s armed forces and members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps , '' the expert explained .
He also noted that Tehran was not in the best position to purchase weapons as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ price plunge , sanctions and the coronavirus pandemic .
Nezavisimaya Gazeta : Global pandemic not stopping US Army from holding drills along Russian borders Russia ’ s unilateral ban on military drills along Western countries ’ borders has entered its second month .
Meanwhile , NATO ’ s Open Spirit 2020 exercise was completed off Latvia ’ s coast on May 14 .
In addition , the alliance plans to hold a European exercise dubbed Allied Spirit .
According to NATO ’ s top brass , it will be a smaller-scale version of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expected to take place in April , Nezavisimaya Gazeta notes .
Edaily.com analyst Dmitry Semushin believes that one of the Defender Europe 2020 exercise ’ s goals was to practice the transfer of US troops to Europe and the deployment of NATO forces along Russia ’ s borders .
The exercise had to be cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic though 6,000 US troops had been deployed to Europe in March .
According to official information , apart from the Americans , the Allied Spirit drills will also involve Polish troops .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be held in Poland will largely involve warplanes , including US strategic bombers , '' military expert Colonel Shamil Gareyev told the newspaper .
He pointed out that NATO countries had already begun to practice such scenarios .
Gareyeev emphasized that two US Air Force B-1 Lancer bombers had carried out a bombing exercise at Estonia ’ s Tapa Range during the Spring Storm 2020 drills on May 6 .
`` The range is located about 100 kilometers from the Leningrad region ’ s border , '' the expert noted .
`` I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Defense Ministry will stand idly by and watch the activities of the US and other NATO countries , '' military expert Lieutenant General Yuri Netkachev said .
`` I am sure that the ban preventing the Baltic and Black Sea Fleets from holding drills along NATO ’ s borders will be removed by June 1 , when a new training period begins in the Army and the Navy , '' the expert concluded .
Millions of Chinese people have lost their sources of regular income because of the coronavirus pandemic .
Migrant workers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eligible to receive government financial assistance though they have been hit the hardest by the quarantine-related economic downturn .
Moreover , the country ’ s authorities fear that protests may break out , Nezavisimaya Gazeta wrote .
The problem is with the most vulnerable group of the population , which includes about 300 mln workers who move from the relatively poor inner regions of the country to the coastal provinces .
Some of the migrants get jobs at large export-oriented factories , while others work in small businesses that create the majority of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the School of Asian Studies at the Higher School of Economy Andrei Karneyev told the newspaper that `` it is important for China to show that it can handle the epidemic and its economic consequences . ''
`` We know that China 's economy shrank by 6.7-6.8 % in the first quarter of the year .
The country will see an economic revival in the second quarter but according to various estimates , the growth rate will range between 3 % and 5.5 % at the end of the year , which is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ China will be in a better position than other large economies , '' the expert noted .
Karneyev went on to say that the unemployment rate had indeed skyrocketed in the first quarter but that was mostly private businesses .
`` This is a sector that caused and continues to cause the greatest concern to the country 's leadership .
Nevertheless , China managed to overcome the crisis at the time , '' he pointed out .
According to the commentator , China is unlikely to face social instability because 85 % to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ again .
Small businessmen and temporary workers are facing pressure but there are two factors that need to be taken into account .
China is sitting on a huge amount of money and has experience in dealing with this kind of crises .
In addition , the strictly organized party and government chain of command makes it possible to suppress unrest .
This is why the country is unlikely to face shocks , the expert emphasized .
US-based tech giant Microsoft has suggested providing its products and services to Russia to help combat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have at least six months of free access .
However , Russian software developers believe the idea is a threat to national security , Kommersant writes .
The products in question include cloud services for remote work and shared access , services ensuring cyber security and coronavirus situation analysis , as well as solutions for medical facilities .
Director of the Russian Association of Software Developers Renat Lashin believes that Western vendors seek to take advantage of the pandemic and spur on violations of several Russian laws .
In particular , Microsoft ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russia ’ s state agencies , medical and educational facilities will be stored and processed overseas .
Besides , in Lashin ’ s words , accepting such an initiative would amount to killing the domestic software industry .
In the past , Microsoft had no rivals in Russia as far as traditional markets go , but as for new markets , including remote access solutions , Russian companies are capable of competing with the US tech behemoth , Russoft Association President Valentin Makarov pointed out .
Another thing to note is that extending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be more expensive than the use of similar Russian technologies , Development Director at TrueConf Dmitry Odintsov stressed .
According to Ivan Begtin , the founder of the Information Culture independent nonprofit organization , though many governments work with Microsoft , the Russian authorities are hardly ready to strike major deals with the corporation , given the amount of money already spent on the development of domestic products , including cloud services .
A group of medical professionals from Tokyo have penned an open letter emphasizing the need to carefully monitor the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
They emphasized that the SARS and MERS outbreaks had led to suicides among patients , Izvestia wrote .
Russian experts point out that the risk of suicide among hospitalized patients does exist but it is a rare occurrence .
`` The risk of suicide may result from an extreme condition based on many factors , '' Head of the Psychological Service at Tomsk State University Azamat Naiman explained .
`` If patients face significant financial losses , social problems , strained family relations , stigmatization , a lack of support and related @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' he elaborated .
Suicidal behavior may somehow be fueled by the general coronavirus hysteria , head of the social and psychological care team at Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology Tatyana Yudina told the paper .
According to her , high-strung individuals are in this risk group .
The latest recommendations on treating coronavirus highlight the importance of psychological assistance , Senior Lecturer at Tyumen State University 's Department of General and Social Psychology Olga Dubrovina noted .
`` Our Chinese colleagues say that based on research , 48 % of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being admitted to the hospital , '' she said .
Experts warn about the need to monitor the psychological and emotional state of hospitalized patients also because the stress can exacerbate their illness .
TASS is not responsible for the material quoted in these press reviews .

Izvestia: Nuke deal participants support removal of Iran arms embargo
Read also Russian envoy blasts US for claiming to be part of Iran nuclear deal
Berlin and Paris support the removal of the Iran arms embargo in October, though cautiously, officials from the German and French foreign ministries told Izvestia. A Russian senator, in turn, pointed out that there was no reason to extend the embargo. A ban on Iranian arms exports and imports was included in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2015. According to the document, Iran needs the UN Security Council's approval to buy and sell weapons. In fact, it turned into an arms embargo because the US can veto such deals as a permanent member of the UN Security Council. The embargo is set to expire in October 2020 but the United States intends to make sure that it is extended. Washington insists that despite its withdrawal from the nuclear deal, UN Security Council Resolution 2231 makes it clear that the US still is one of the deal’s participants and has the right to invoke a snapback mechanism within the JCPOA. Moscow does not agree with such an approach. Chairman of the Russian Federation Council Foreign Affairs Committee Konstantin Kosachev emphasized the need to oppose Washington’s pressure. He said that the US continued to demonize Iran and blackmail UN Security Council members. "Moscow will never take action beyond the Security Council's resolutions but likewise, Russia will never encourage actions that violate these resolutions," the senator pointed out. Meanwhile, if Washington fails to extend the arms embargo, there is a good chance that it will impose sanctions on countries selling weapons to Iran, PIR Center expert Andrei Baklitsky said. According to him, the US won’t even need to pass new laws to do it because the current US sanctions on Tehran already include all the measures that it may need. "If you decide to sell weapons to Iran, you will have to establish financial relations with Iran’s Central Bank, and this will automatically fall under US sanctions, as well as deals with Iran’s armed forces and members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps," the expert explained. He also noted that Tehran was not in the best position to purchase weapons as it had been affected by the oil price plunge, sanctions and the coronavirus pandemic. Nezavisimaya Gazeta: Global pandemic not stopping US Army from holding drills along Russian borders
Read also NATO drills increasingly resemble preparations for war — Foreign Ministry
Russia’s unilateral ban on military drills along Western countries’ borders has entered its second month. Meanwhile, NATO’s Open Spirit 2020 exercise was completed off Latvia’s coast on May 14. In addition, the alliance plans to hold a European exercise dubbed Allied Spirit. According to NATO’s top brass, it will be a smaller-scale version of the Defender Europe 2020 drills that were expected to take place in April, Nezavisimaya Gazeta notes. Edaily.com analyst Dmitry Semushin believes that one of the Defender Europe 2020 exercise’s goals was to practice the transfer of US troops to Europe and the deployment of NATO forces along Russia’s borders. The exercise had to be cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic though 6,000 US troops had been deployed to Europe in March. According to official information, apart from the Americans, the Allied Spirit drills will also involve Polish troops. "I think that the drills set to be held in Poland will largely involve warplanes, including US strategic bombers," military expert Colonel Shamil Gareyev told the newspaper. He pointed out that NATO countries had already begun to practice such scenarios. Gareyeev emphasized that two US Air Force B-1 Lancer bombers had carried out a bombing exercise at Estonia’s Tapa Range during the Spring Storm 2020 drills on May 6. "The range is located about 100 kilometers from the Leningrad region’s border," the expert noted. "I don’t think that the Russian Defense Ministry will stand idly by and watch the activities of the US and other NATO countries," military expert Lieutenant General Yuri Netkachev said. "I am sure that the ban preventing the Baltic and Black Sea Fleets from holding drills along NATO’s borders will be removed by June 1, when a new training period begins in the Army and the Navy," the expert concluded. Nezavisimaya Gazeta: Coronavirus pandemic has China focusing on social stability
Millions of Chinese people have lost their sources of regular income because of the coronavirus pandemic. Migrant workers and owners of small businesses are not eligible to receive government financial assistance though they have been hit the hardest by the quarantine-related economic downturn. Moreover, the country’s authorities fear that protests may break out, Nezavisimaya Gazeta wrote. The problem is with the most vulnerable group of the population, which includes about 300 mln workers who move from the relatively poor inner regions of the country to the coastal provinces. Some of the migrants get jobs at large export-oriented factories, while others work in small businesses that create the majority of jobs in the country. Head of the School of Asian Studies at the Higher School of Economy Andrei Karneyev told the newspaper that "it is important for China to show that it can handle the epidemic and its economic consequences." "We know that China's economy shrank by 6.7-6.8% in the first quarter of the year. The country will see an economic revival in the second quarter but according to various estimates, the growth rate will range between 3% and 5.5% at the end of the year, which is worse than pre-pandemic expectations. However, China will be in a better position than other large economies," the expert noted. Karneyev went on to say that the unemployment rate had indeed skyrocketed in the first quarter but that was mostly private businesses. "This is a sector that caused and continues to cause the greatest concern to the country's leadership. Nevertheless, China managed to overcome the crisis at the time," he pointed out. According to the commentator, China is unlikely to face social instability because 85% to 90% of the economy is working again. Small businessmen and temporary workers are facing pressure but there are two factors that need to be taken into account. China is sitting on a huge amount of money and has experience in dealing with this kind of crises. In addition, the strictly organized party and government chain of command makes it possible to suppress unrest. This is why the country is unlikely to face shocks, the expert emphasized. Kommersant: Microsoft offers ‘free‘ services to Russian government
US-based tech giant Microsoft has suggested providing its products and services to Russia to help combat the coronavirus pandemic. The government will have at least six months of free access. However, Russian software developers believe the idea is a threat to national security, Kommersant writes. The products in question include cloud services for remote work and shared access, services ensuring cyber security and coronavirus situation analysis, as well as solutions for medical facilities. Director of the Russian Association of Software Developers Renat Lashin believes that Western vendors seek to take advantage of the pandemic and spur on violations of several Russian laws. In particular, Microsoft’s initiative means that critical data from Russia’s state agencies, medical and educational facilities will be stored and processed overseas. Besides, in Lashin’s words, accepting such an initiative would amount to killing the domestic software industry. In the past, Microsoft had no rivals in Russia as far as traditional markets go, but as for new markets, including remote access solutions, Russian companies are capable of competing with the US tech behemoth, Russoft Association President Valentin Makarov pointed out. Another thing to note is that extending Microsoft’s licenses may turn out to be more expensive than the use of similar Russian technologies, Development Director at TrueConf Dmitry Odintsov stressed. According to Ivan Begtin, the founder of the Information Culture independent nonprofit organization, though many governments work with Microsoft, the Russian authorities are hardly ready to strike major deals with the corporation, given the amount of money already spent on the development of domestic products, including cloud services. Izvestia: Doctors warn about suicidal tendencies among coronavirus patients


tass--2020-05-15--Nord Stream 2 operator may challenge decision of German regulator on Gas Directive

MOSCOW , May 15 .
/TASS/ .
Nord Stream 2 AG , operator of the Nord Stream 2 project , @ @ @ @ @ an appeal against the decision of the Federal Network Agency of Germany , which refused @ @ @ @ @ from the scope of restrictions established by the EU Gas Directive , a spokesperson with @ @ @ @ @ TASS .
`` We expect reception of a formal decision , then we will assess @ @ @ @ @ to protect our rights , including appealing this decision in German courts .
An appeal @ @ @ @ @ after the decision is made , '' the spokesperson said .
The official also stressed @ @ @ @ @ Nord Stream 2 application shows the discriminatory effect of the amended EU Gas Directive .
@ @ @ @ @ not affect the completion of the pipeline , the official added .

The Nord Stream 2 AG spokesperson stressed that the rejection of the Nord Stream 2 application shows the discriminatory effect of the amended EU Gas Directive
Read also German regulator refuses to exempt Nord Stream 2 from EU Gas Directive
MOSCOW, May 15. /TASS/. Nord Stream 2 AG, operator of the Nord Stream 2 project, does not rule out filing an appeal against the decision of the Federal Network Agency of Germany, which refused to remove the gas pipeline from the scope of restrictions established by the EU Gas Directive, a spokesperson with Nord Stream 2 AG told TASS. The German regulator explained its decision stating that the request of Nord Stream 2 AG does not comply with the effective norms. According to the current rules, only those pipelines can be eligible for exemption from restrictions, the construction of which was completed by May 23 2019. Company’s stance
Read also German Government will continue to support companies participating in Nord Stream 2
"Nord Stream 2 AG does not agree with this decision and insists that in terms of economic functionality the pipeline was completed by the actual date of May 23, 2019. Based on the legal framework that was effective at that time, the company made an irrevocable investment of 1 billion euro long before the EC announced its plan to amend the Gas Directive," an official with Nord Stream 2 AG stressed. According to Nord Stream 2 AG, international legal experts confirmed that "narrowing the definition of "completion of the project" to the confirmation of the physical construction of the pipeline would violate the protection of legitimate expectations and other fundamental rights in the EU law," and also contradicts the constitutional guarantees of the German basic law. The operator stated that Nord Stream 2 is a project that has received all the necessary permits and is being implemented in accordance with applicable national and international laws.
Read also Possible Nord Stream 2 pipelayer enters Danish waters
"The ongoing procedures (of derogation, litigation in the EU court, arbitration court under the Energy Charter Treaty) are called upon to clarify the rules that will be applicable to the operation of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. The need for such a clarification arose as a result of the adoption of amendments to the EU Gas Directive, which unlawfully discriminate the project, as well as a lack of assessment of its impact, which is usually a mandatory procedure until the introduction of new legislation of the European Commission," the official noted. "We expect reception of a formal decision, then we will assess it and consider further steps to protect our rights, including appealing this decision in German courts. An appeal is possible within one month after the decision is made," the spokesperson said. The official also stressed that the rejection of the Nord Stream 2 application shows the discriminatory effect of the amended EU Gas Directive. However, the decision will not affect the completion of the pipeline, the official added. Impact of the Gas Directive on the project Amendments to the EU Gas Directive were approved in April 2019. They imply that the key principles of regulating the European gas market should be applied not only to land, but also to offshore pipelines in the territorial waters of the EU states. One of the key principles is that a gas producing company cannot simultaneously own the pipeline through which its gas is delivered. Another requirement concerns other gas suppliers’ access to the pipeline. For Gazprom it means that it will be able to use only half of the pipeline’s capacity. About project


tass--2020-05-15--German regulator refuses to exempt Nord Stream 2 from EU Gas Directive

BERLIN , May 15 .
/TASS/ .
The Federal Network Agency of Germany refused Nord Stream 2 AG in withdrawing @ @ @ @ @ from the rules of the updated EU Gas Directive , the regulator said on Friday @ @ @ @ @ today rejected the application of Nord Stream 2 AG for derogation from regulation for the @ @ @ @ @ 2 pipeline located in German territory , '' the statement said .

BERLIN, May 15. /TASS/. The Federal Network Agency of Germany refused Nord Stream 2 AG in withdrawing the Nord Stream 2 project from the rules of the updated EU Gas Directive, the regulator said on Friday.
"The Bundesnetzagentur has today rejected the application of Nord Stream 2 AG for derogation from regulation for the section of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline located in German territory," the statement said.


tass--2020-05-15--Rosneft withdraws from all projects in Venezuela, discontinues operations in country

MOSCOW , May 15 .
/TASS/ .
Rosneft has completely discontinued its operations in Venezuela and withdrawn from all projects @ @ @ @ @ exploration and production entities , as well as oilfield services companies , according to Chief @ @ @ @ @ s oil major Igor Sechin .
`` In second quarter of 2020 , the Company @ @ @ @ @ to transfer to a company that is 100 % owned by the Government of the @ @ @ @ @ Venezuela , including participation shares in projects of Petromonagas , Petroperija , Boqueron , Petromiranda @ @ @ @ @ as oil-field service companies and trading operations .
Company ’ s operations in Venezuela have @ @ @ @ @ Sechin was quoted as saying .
The agreement on the company ’ s withdrawal from @ @ @ @ @ April , according to the report .

MOSCOW, May 15. /TASS/. Rosneft has completely discontinued its operations in Venezuela and withdrawn from all projects in the country, including exploration and production entities, as well as oilfield services companies, according to Chief Executive Officer of Russia’s oil major Igor Sechin.
"In second quarter of 2020, the Company closed a previously announced transaction to transfer to a company that is 100 % owned by the Government of the Russian Federation all assets in Venezuela, including participation shares in projects of Petromonagas, Petroperija, Boqueron, Petromiranda and Petrovictoria, as well as oil-field service companies and trading operations. Company’s operations in Venezuela have been completely discontinued," Sechin was quoted as saying.
The agreement on the company’s withdrawal from Venezuelan projects was closed in April, according to the report.


tass--2020-05-15--Hainan announces opening of new airport

Hainan announces opening of new airport

HAIKOU , May 15 .
/TASS/ .
The Hainan authorities announced the commissioning of a new airport in Dongfang — Datian— in the western part of the island this week , according to the Hainan Daily .
The construction of the airport began in November 2018 and was carried out in two stages .
The airport 's territory , belonging to category A1 ( with at least ten passenger boarding gates ) , occupies 162,800 square meters .
Datian 's runway is 800 meters long .
The airport can simultaneously receive 14 aircraft and is designed primarily for small aircraft @ @ @ @ @ @ @ helicopters .
According to the local administration , Datian will be used mainly for servicing charter flights and flights to islands in the South China Sea , as well as for energy resources exploration research and carrying out rescue missions .
“ The airport will provide a wide range of services for the aircraft , ” said an airport 's representative .
Three key Hainan airports are located in the northern ( Meilan in Haikou ) , southern ( Phoenix in Sanya ) and eastern ( Boao ) parts of the island .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , directly connecting approximately 40 cities .
In 2019 , Hainan launched direct flights to Russia 's Blagoveshchensk , Zhukovsky , Kazan , Samara , Tomsk , Ufa and Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk .

HAIKOU, May 15. /TASS/. The Hainan authorities announced the commissioning of a new airport in Dongfang — Datian— in the western part of the island this week, according to the Hainan Daily.
The construction of the airport began in November 2018 and was carried out in two stages. The airport's territory, belonging to category A1 (with at least ten passenger boarding gates), occupies 162,800 square meters. Datian's runway is 800 meters long. The airport can simultaneously receive 14 aircraft and is designed primarily for small aircraft, and is also fit to serve helicopters.
According to the local administration, Datian will be used mainly for servicing charter flights and flights to islands in the South China Sea, as well as for energy resources exploration research and carrying out rescue missions. “The airport will provide a wide range of services for the aircraft,” said an airport's representative.
Three key Hainan airports are located in the northern (Meilan in Haikou), southern (Phoenix in Sanya) and eastern (Boao) parts of the island. Daily they serve dozens of international flights, directly connecting approximately 40 cities. In 2019, Hainan launched direct flights to Russia's Blagoveshchensk, Zhukovsky, Kazan, Samara, Tomsk, Ufa and Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk.


tass--2020-05-15--Number of coronavirus cases in Brazil surpasses 200,000

RIO DE JANEIRO , May 15 .
/TASS/ .
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Brazil reached 202,918 , increasing by 13,944 over the past day , according to official statistics published on Friday .
According to the country ’ s Ministry of Health , the number of deaths associated with coronavirus increased by 844 over the day to 13,993 .
Meanwhile , 79,497 patients recovered .
The first coronavirus case in Brazil was confirmed on February 26 in Sao Paulo .
Earlier , the Ministry of Health predicted that the situation in the country would stabilize by July @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the incidence rate would begin in August , and a decline would occur in September .
In late December 2019 , Chinese officials notified the World Health Organization ( WHO ) about the outbreak of a previously unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan , in central China .
Since then , cases of the novel coronavirus — named COVID-19 by the WHO — have been reported in every corner of the globe , including Russia .
On March 11 , 2020 , the WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic .

RIO DE JANEIRO, May 15. /TASS/. The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Brazil reached 202,918, increasing by 13,944 over the past day, according to official statistics published on Friday.
According to the country’s Ministry of Health, the number of deaths associated with coronavirus increased by 844 over the day to 13,993. Meanwhile, 79,497 patients recovered.
The first coronavirus case in Brazil was confirmed on February 26 in Sao Paulo. Earlier, the Ministry of Health predicted that the situation in the country would stabilize by July, a gradual slowdown in the dynamics of the incidence rate would begin in August, and a decline would occur in September.
In late December 2019, Chinese officials notified the World Health Organization (WHO) about the outbreak of a previously unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan, in central China. Since then, cases of the novel coronavirus — named COVID-19 by the WHO — have been reported in every corner of the globe, including Russia. On March 11, 2020, the WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic.


tass--2020-05-15--Russia’s COVID-19 recovery rate at 22%

Russia’s COVID-19 recovery rate at 22%

MOSCOW , May 15 .
/TASS/ .
The number of COVID-19 patients who have recovered in Russia over the past day has grown by 4,696 to 58,226 over the past 24 hours , the anti-viris coordination center told the media on Friday .
According to TASS estimates , the recovery rate now stands at 22 % .
On Thursday , the center reported 5,527 recoveries .
In one day 1,235 recovered in Moscow , 481 in the Moscow Region , 172 in Dagestan , 135 in the Nizhni Novgorod Region , 121 in the Krasnodar Region , 116 in Tatarstan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 110 in the Penza Region and 106 in St. Petersburg .
Over the past day the virus has killed 113 , taking the overall death toll to 2,418 : 68 deaths were in Moscow , 13 in the Moscow Region , five in St. Petersburg , three in the Stavropol Region and Nizhni Novgorod Region each , two in the Tula Region , Novosibirsk Region , Ingushetia and Khanty Mansi Region autonomous region each .
The Belgorod Region , Ivanovo Region , Kursk Region , Leningrad Region , Saratov Region , Sverdlovsk Region @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Dagestan , Buryatia , Transbaikal Region , Krasnoyarsk Region and Perm Region saw one death each .

MOSCOW, May 15. /TASS/. The number of COVID-19 patients who have recovered in Russia over the past day has grown by 4,696 to 58,226 over the past 24 hours, the anti-viris coordination center told the media on Friday. According to TASS estimates, the recovery rate now stands at 22%.
On Thursday, the center reported 5,527 recoveries. In one day 1,235 recovered in Moscow, 481 in the Moscow Region, 172 in Dagestan, 135 in the Nizhni Novgorod Region, 121 in the Krasnodar Region, 116 in Tatarstan, 113 in the Orenburg Region, 110 in the Penza Region and 106 in St. Petersburg.
Over the past day the virus has killed 113, taking the overall death toll to 2,418: 68 deaths were in Moscow, 13 in the Moscow Region, five in St. Petersburg, three in the Stavropol Region and Nizhni Novgorod Region each, two in the Tula Region, Novosibirsk Region, Ingushetia and Khanty Mansi Region autonomous region each. The Belgorod Region, Ivanovo Region, Kursk Region, Leningrad Region, Saratov Region, Sverdlovsk Region, Chelyabinsk Region, Jewish Autonomous Region, Dagestan, Buryatia, Transbaikal Region, Krasnoyarsk Region and Perm Region saw one death each.


tass--2020-05-15--Russia’s coronavirus cases surpass 262,000

MOSCOW , May 15 .
/TASS/ .
The number of people infected with the coronavirus in Russia has risen by @ @ @ @ @ hours reaching 262,843 , the anti-coronavirus crisis center reported on Friday .
According to the @ @ @ @ @ growth rate stood at 4.2 % compared to 4.1 % the day before .
Furthermore @ @ @ @ @ % ) are asymptomatic .
Another 4,748 cases have been recorded in Moscow , bringing @ @ @ @ @ to 135,464 .
The daily growth rate in the capital was 3.6 % compared to @ @ @ @ @ .
New coronavirus cases have been confirmed in another 84 regions , including 945 in @ @ @ @ @ in St. Petersburg , 307 in the Nizhny Novgorod Region , 115 in the Yamalo-Nenets @ @ @ @ @ the Saratov Region , 105 in the Tula Region , 104 in the Sverdlovsk Region @ @ @ @ @ Region and 100 in the Chelyabinsk Region .

MOSCOW, May 15. /TASS/. The number of people infected with the coronavirus in Russia has risen by 10,598 over the past 24 hours reaching 262,843, the anti-coronavirus crisis center reported on Friday.
According to the crisis center, the daily growth rate stood at 4.2% compared to 4.1% the day before. Furthermore, 4,504 cases (42.5%) are asymptomatic.
Another 4,748 cases have been recorded in Moscow, bringing the total number of infections to 135,464. The daily growth rate in the capital was 3.6% compared to 3.7% the day before.
New coronavirus cases have been confirmed in another 84 regions, including 945 in the Moscow Region, 541 in St. Petersburg, 307 in the Nizhny Novgorod Region, 115 in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District, 113 in the Saratov Region, 105 in the Tula Region, 104 in the Sverdlovsk Region, 101 in the Ivanovo Region and 100 in the Chelyabinsk Region.


tass--2020-05-15--Russia's Rosneft to supply 9 mln tonnes of oil to Belarusian refineries by year end

MOSCOW , May 15 .
/TASS/ .
Rosneft has entered into agreements with Naftan , BNK and Mozyr Refinery on @ @ @ @ @ of expanding cooperation with Belarus , according to the company ’ s report released on @ @ @ @ @ 9 mln tonnes of oil to Belarusian refineries in the period between April and December @ @

MOSCOW, May 15. /TASS/. Rosneft has entered into agreements with Naftan, BNK and Mozyr Refinery on oil supplies within the framework of expanding cooperation with Belarus, according to the company’s report released on Friday.
Rosneft will deliver 9 mln tonnes of oil to Belarusian refineries in the period between April and December 2020.


tass--2020-05-15--Watchdog says 256,000 people remain under medical surveillance in Russia

MOSCOW , May 15 .
/TASS/ .
A total of 256,000 people remain under medical surveillance in Russia due to @ @ @ @ @ the novel coronavirus , the press service of Russia ’ s consumer rights watchdog reported @ @ @ @ @ A total of ] 256,000 people remain under medical surveillance in Russia , '' the @ @ @ @ @ to the watchdog , more than 6.4 million coronavirus tests have been conducted throughout the @ @ @ @ @ conducted over the past 24 hours .
In late December 2019 , Chinese officials notified @ @ @ @ @ WHO ) about the outbreak of a previously unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan @ @ @ @ @ Since then , cases of the novel coronavirus - named COVID-19 by the WHO - @ @ @ @ @ corner of the globe , including Russia .
Earlier , the Russian government set up @ @ @ @ @ the public updated on the coronavirus situation .

MOSCOW, May 15. /TASS/. A total of 256,000 people remain under medical surveillance in Russia due to being suspected of having contracted the novel coronavirus, the press service of Russia’s consumer rights watchdog reported on Friday.
"[A total of] 256,000 people remain under medical surveillance in Russia," the press service said.
According to the watchdog, more than 6.4 million coronavirus tests have been conducted throughout the country, with 225,000 tests conducted over the past 24 hours.
In late December 2019, Chinese officials notified the World Health Organization (WHO) about the outbreak of a previously unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan, in central China. Since then, cases of the novel coronavirus - named COVID-19 by the WHO - have been reported in every corner of the globe, including Russia. Earlier, the Russian government set up an Internet hotline to keep the public updated on the coronavirus situation.


tass--2020-05-15--First case of COVID-19 documented on Kuril Islands

YUZHNO-SAKHALINSK , May 15 .
/TASS/ .
Officials of the Southern Kuril Islands have introduced a state of emergency on the territory of the Shikotan Island ( Southern Kuril Islands , Sakhalin Region ) after the first case of the novel coronavirus was documented on its territory , local officials informed TASS on Friday .
The Sakhalin Region has documented 21 people infected , with an additional 25 people recovered and discharged from hospitals .
There have been no cases of infection on the Kuril Islands before today .
`` A state of emergency has been introduced in the region @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was detected , '' the officials said .
In late December 2019 , Chinese officials notified the World Health Organization ( WHO ) about the outbreak of a previously unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan , in central China .
Since then , cases of the novel coronavirus - named COVID-19 by the WHO - have been reported in every corner of the globe , including Russia .
As of May 14 , a total of 252,245 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Russia , with 53,530 patients having recovered from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ indicates 2,305 fatalities nationwide .
Earlier , the Russian government set up an Internet hotline to keep the public updated on the coronavirus situation .

YUZHNO-SAKHALINSK, May 15. /TASS/. Officials of the Southern Kuril Islands have introduced a state of emergency on the territory of the Shikotan Island (Southern Kuril Islands, Sakhalin Region) after the first case of the novel coronavirus was documented on its territory, local officials informed TASS on Friday.
The Sakhalin Region has documented 21 people infected, with an additional 25 people recovered and discharged from hospitals. There have been no cases of infection on the Kuril Islands before today.
"A state of emergency has been introduced in the region after one case of the coronavirus infection was detected," the officials said.
In late December 2019, Chinese officials notified the World Health Organization (WHO) about the outbreak of a previously unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan, in central China. Since then, cases of the novel coronavirus - named COVID-19 by the WHO - have been reported in every corner of the globe, including Russia.
As of May 14, a total of 252,245 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Russia, with 53,530 patients having recovered from the virus. Russia’s latest data indicates 2,305 fatalities nationwide. Earlier, the Russian government set up an Internet hotline to keep the public updated on the coronavirus situation.


tass--2020-05-15--Russian Navy oceanographic research vessel Admiral Vladimirsky clears Cape of Good Hope

MOSCOW , May 15 .
/TASS/ .
The Russian Navy ’ s oceanographic research vessel Admiral Vladimirsky has left behind the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa and continues on its voyage in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean , Russian Navy Spokesman Captain 1st Rank Igor Dygalo said on Friday .
`` The oceanographic research vessel Admiral Vladimirsky has passed the Cape of Good Hope and the traverse of Cape Town , rounded the southern cap of Africa and continues on its voyage in the Atlantic Ocean , '' Dygalo said .
He also stated that the crew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the implementation of the set tasks .
The oceanographic research vessel is currently on the route of Russia ’ s round-the-world expedition devoted to the 200th anniversary of the discovery of the Antarctic by Russian explorers and the 250th anniversary of the birth of admiral and explorer Ivan Kruzenshtern .
The expedition started in December 2019 and will last until June this year .
The hydrographic ship Marshal Gelovani and the oceanographic research ship Yantar are also taking part in the round-the-world expedition along different routes .
The oceanographic research vessel Admiral @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) in 1975 .
The vessel is operational in Russia ’ s Baltic Fleet .
It displaces 9,120 tonnes , has an operating range of 18,000 miles and a crew of 170 men .

MOSCOW, May 15. /TASS/. The Russian Navy’s oceanographic research vessel Admiral Vladimirsky has left behind the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa and continues on its voyage in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, Russian Navy Spokesman Captain 1st Rank Igor Dygalo said on Friday.
"The oceanographic research vessel Admiral Vladimirsky has passed the Cape of Good Hope and the traverse of Cape Town, rounded the southern cap of Africa and continues on its voyage in the Atlantic Ocean," Dygalo said.
He also stated that the crew of the vessel is healthy and continues with the implementation of the set tasks.
The oceanographic research vessel is currently on the route of Russia’s round-the-world expedition devoted to the 200th anniversary of the discovery of the Antarctic by Russian explorers and the 250th anniversary of the birth of admiral and explorer Ivan Kruzenshtern. The expedition started in December 2019 and will last until June this year.
The hydrographic ship Marshal Gelovani and the oceanographic research ship Yantar are also taking part in the round-the-world expedition along different routes.
The oceanographic research vessel Admiral Vladimirsky was built in Szczecin (Poland) in 1975. The vessel is operational in Russia’s Baltic Fleet. It displaces 9,120 tonnes, has an operating range of 18,000 miles and a crew of 170 men.


tass--2020-05-15--Ukrainian President Zelensky extends ban on Russian social networks

KIEV , May 15 .
/TASS/ .
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has approved a decision of the National Security and @ @ @ @ @ previously imposed ban on a number of Russian websites and social networks for three more @ @ @ @ @ official website of the Ukrainian president .
The Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council submitted @ @ @ @ @ on Wednesday requesting a prolongation of the national ban on Russian social networks for three @ @ @ @ @ parliament , Verkhovna Rada , passed a resolution on May 13 requesting an extension of @ @ @ @ @ .
On May 15 , 2017 , then Ukrainian President Pyotr Poroshenko signed into effect @ @ @ @ @ National Security and Defense Council on expanding the Russian sanctions list of 1,228 Russian individuals @ @ @ @ @ Sanctions were imposed on several TV channels and Internet companies , including 1C , ABBYY @ @ @ @ @ In addition , Russia ’ s VKontakte and Odnoklassniki social networks , Mail.ru and Yandex @ @ @ @

KIEV, May 15. /TASS/. Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has approved a decision of the National Security and Defense Council to extend a previously imposed ban on a number of Russian websites and social networks for three more years, according to the official website of the Ukrainian president.
The Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council submitted its proposal with the president on Wednesday requesting a prolongation of the national ban on Russian social networks for three more years. The Ukrainian parliament, Verkhovna Rada, passed a resolution on May 13 requesting an extension of sanctions against Russia-based Internet companies.
On May 15, 2017, then Ukrainian President Pyotr Poroshenko signed into effect a decision made by the National Security and Defense Council on expanding the Russian sanctions list of 1,228 Russian individuals and 468 legal entities.
Sanctions were imposed on several TV channels and Internet companies, including 1C, ABBYY and their Ukrainian subsidiaries. In addition, Russia’s VKontakte and Odnoklassniki social networks, Mail.ru and Yandex companies were banned.


tass--2020-05-15--Citizens of Belarus, Kazakhstan, Ukraine seek help of Russian Embassy in US

WASHINGTON , May 15 .
/TASS/ .
Citizens of Belarus , Kazakhstan and Ukraine are turning to the Russian Embassy in the United States asking for assistance in traveling to Russia in order to reunite with their families , according to Russian Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov .
A passenger plane of the Russian flagship airline Aeroflot took off from JFK Airport in New York to Moscow on Thursday night , local time , carrying Russian citizens , including 10 high school exchange students , wishing to return home amid the ongoing global spread of the novel coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ States said that the organized flight was ‘ a high achievement.
’ '' This flight carries 369 citizens , '' the Russian diplomatic mission cited Antonov as saying on its FaceBook page .
`` We have never seen an aircraft loaded up this much and this was some kind of a record figure for us . ''
`` There is still a lot to be done .
We are receiving requests from citizens of Belarus , Kazakhstan and Ukraine asking for our assistance in traveling to Russia in order to reunite with their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Antonov stated on April 3 that over 2,000 Russian nationals in the United States turned to Russian diplomatic missions requesting assistance in returning back to their country .
Following the requests at the issue , Aeroflot organized flights from New York on April 7 , 14 and 28 , as well as from Los Angeles , California , on May 4 .

WASHINGTON, May 15. /TASS/. Citizens of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Ukraine are turning to the Russian Embassy in the United States asking for assistance in traveling to Russia in order to reunite with their families, according to Russian Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov.
A passenger plane of the Russian flagship airline Aeroflot took off from JFK Airport in New York to Moscow on Thursday night, local time, carrying Russian citizens, including 10 high school exchange students, wishing to return home amid the ongoing global spread of the novel coronavirus. The Russian ambassador to the United States said that the organized flight was ‘a high achievement.’
"This flight carries 369 citizens," the Russian diplomatic mission cited Antonov as saying on its FaceBook page. "We have never seen an aircraft loaded up this much and this was some kind of a record figure for us."
"There is still a lot to be done. We are receiving requests from citizens of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Ukraine asking for our assistance in traveling to Russia in order to reunite with their families," the Russian ambassador said.
Antonov stated on April 3 that over 2,000 Russian nationals in the United States turned to Russian diplomatic missions requesting assistance in returning back to their country. Following the requests at the issue, Aeroflot organized flights from New York on April 7, 14 and 28, as well as from Los Angeles, California, on May 4.


tass--2020-05-14--Hainan Airlines to team up with China's BYD in fight against novel coronavirus

HAIKOU , May 14 .
/TASS/ .
Hainan Airlines , a member of the HNA Group alliance , will provide services to BYD , the largest electric vehicle manufacturer in China , to send funds abroad to combat the spread of the novel coronavirus .
The agreement , according to www.yicaiglobal.com , was signed between the HNA Group and BYD in the city of Shenzhen ( southern Guangdong ) on May 13 .
Currently BYD has launched the production of protective medical masks on 300 production lines amid huge demand for such goods both in China and abroad .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The company delivers a part of the products abroad since last month .
The signed agreement , the website writes , provides for cooperation in a number of other areas , including marketing of cars running on alternative fuel and cooperation aimed at promoting the construction of Hainan 's pilot free trade zone .
On March 11 , 2020 , the WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic .
According to the latest statistics , over 4,442,000 people have been infected worldwide and more than 298,000 deaths have been reported .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ individuals have recovered from the illness across the globe .

HAIKOU, May 14. /TASS/. Hainan Airlines, a member of the HNA Group alliance, will provide services to BYD, the largest electric vehicle manufacturer in China, to send funds abroad to combat the spread of the novel coronavirus. The agreement, according to www.yicaiglobal.com, was signed between the HNA Group and BYD in the city of Shenzhen (southern Guangdong) on May 13.
Currently BYD has launched the production of protective medical masks on 300 production lines amid huge demand for such goods both in China and abroad. The company daily increases production by a million. The company delivers a part of the products abroad since last month.
The signed agreement, the website writes, provides for cooperation in a number of other areas, including marketing of cars running on alternative fuel and cooperation aimed at promoting the construction of Hainan's pilot free trade zone.
On March 11, 2020, the WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic. According to the latest statistics, over 4,442,000 people have been infected worldwide and more than 298,000 deaths have been reported. In addition, so far, over 1,668,000 individuals have recovered from the illness across the globe.


tass--2020-05-16--Moscow reports 74 novel coronavirus deaths in past day

MOSCOW , May 15 .
/TASS/ .
A total of 74 patients diagnosed with the novel coronavirus have died in Moscow in the past 24 hours , which is the biggest number of casualties ever reported in the Russian capital in one day , Moscow ’ s anti-coronavirus crisis center said on Friday .
`` A total of 74 patients who were diagnosed with pneumonia and tested positive for the novel coronavirus , have died in Moscow , '' it said .
According to the center , it is the biggest number of deaths occurring in Moscow in one day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The overall death toll in the Russian capital now stands at 1,432 .
On March 11 , 2020 , the WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic .
According to the latest statistics , over 4,543,000 people have been infected worldwide and more than 303,000 deaths have been reported .
In addition , so far , over 1,712,000 individuals have recovered from the illness across the globe .
To date , a total of 262,843 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Russia , with 58,226 patients having recovered from the virus .
Russia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nationwide .
Earlier , the Russian government set up an Internet hotline to keep the public updated on the coronavirus situation .

MOSCOW, May 15. /TASS/. A total of 74 patients diagnosed with the novel coronavirus have died in Moscow in the past 24 hours, which is the biggest number of casualties ever reported in the Russian capital in one day, Moscow’s anti-coronavirus crisis center said on Friday.
"A total of 74 patients who were diagnosed with pneumonia and tested positive for the novel coronavirus, have died in Moscow," it said.
According to the center, it is the biggest number of deaths occurring in Moscow in one day since the start of the outbreak.
The overall death toll in the Russian capital now stands at 1,432.
On March 11, 2020, the WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic. According to the latest statistics, over 4,543,000 people have been infected worldwide and more than 303,000 deaths have been reported. In addition, so far, over 1,712,000 individuals have recovered from the illness across the globe.
To date, a total of 262,843 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Russia, with 58,226 patients having recovered from the virus. Russia’s latest data indicates 2,418 fatalities nationwide. Earlier, the Russian government set up an Internet hotline to keep the public updated on the coronavirus situation.


tass--2020-05-16--Number of COVID-2019 cases across globe up by over 90,000 in past day — WHO

GENEVA , May 15 .
/TASS/ .
More than 90,000 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection were registered worldwide on May 15 , with the overall number of such cases nearing 4.34 million , the World Health Organization ( WHO ) said in its daily bulletin on Friday .
As of 11:00 Moscow time on May 15 , as many as 4,338,658 novel coronavirus cases and 297,119 coronavirus-associated deaths were registered across the globe .
The number of confirmed cases grew by 90,269 in the past 24 hours and the number of fatalities increased by 5,073 .
The WHO @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the countries .
South and North America accounts for the majority of confirmed coronavirus cases - 1,864,468 .
In the past 24 hours , the number of cases grew by 44,915 and the number of deaths - by 2,813 and reached 111,934 .
The number confirmed COVID-2019 cases in Europe amounts to 1,826,295 and the number of fatalities is 163,277 .
In the past 24 hours , the number of cases grew by 24,627 and the number of deaths - by 1,864 .
The East Mediterranean region has 305,189 cases and 9,558 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the past 24 hours , the number of cases grew by 11,484 and the number of deaths - by 169 .
The biggest number of coronavirus cases was reported from the United States ( 1,361,522 ) , Russia ( 262,843 ) , the United Kingdom ( 233,155 ) , Spain ( 229,540 ) , Italy ( 223,096 ) , Brazil ( 188,974 ) , Germany ( 173,152 ) , Turkey ( 144,749 ) , France ( 139,152 ) , and Iran ( 114,533 ) .
A pneumonia outbreak caused by the COVID-19 virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported in China ’ s city of Wuhan , a large trade and industrial center with a population of 12 million , in late December 2019 .
Since then , cases of the new coronavirus have been reported from nearly all parts of the world .
On March 11 , 2020 , the World Health Organization ( WHO ) declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic .

GENEVA, May 15. /TASS/. More than 90,000 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection were registered worldwide on May 15, with the overall number of such cases nearing 4.34 million, the World Health Organization (WHO) said in its daily bulletin on Friday.
As of 11:00 Moscow time on May 15, as many as 4,338,658 novel coronavirus cases and 297,119 coronavirus-associated deaths were registered across the globe. The number of confirmed cases grew by 90,269 in the past 24 hours and the number of fatalities increased by 5,073.
The WHO statistics is based on officially confirmed data from the countries.
South and North America accounts for the majority of confirmed coronavirus cases - 1,864,468. In the past 24 hours, the number of cases grew by 44,915 and the number of deaths - by 2,813 and reached 111,934.
The number confirmed COVID-2019 cases in Europe amounts to 1,826,295 and the number of fatalities is 163,277. In the past 24 hours, the number of cases grew by 24,627 and the number of deaths - by 1,864.
The East Mediterranean region has 305,189 cases and 9,558 fatalities as of May 15. In the past 24 hours, the number of cases grew by 11,484 and the number of deaths - by 169.
The biggest number of coronavirus cases was reported from the United States (1,361,522), Russia (262,843), the United Kingdom (233,155), Spain (229,540), Italy (223,096), Brazil (188,974), Germany (173,152), Turkey (144,749), France (139,152), and Iran (114,533).
A pneumonia outbreak caused by the COVID-19 virus (previously known as 2019-nCoV) was reported in China’s city of Wuhan, a large trade and industrial center with a population of 12 million, in late December 2019. Since then, cases of the new coronavirus have been reported from nearly all parts of the world. On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic.


tass--2020-05-16--Only 5.6% of symptomless patients in St. Petersburg have antibodies to coronavirus — study

ST. PETERSBURG , May 15 .
/TASS/ .
Less than six percent of symptomless coronavirus patients have antibodies to the virus , the press service of St. Petersburg ’ s health committee told TASS on Friday , citing the results of the study conducted by the Virology Center of St. Petersburg ’ s Hospital No 40 .
The study embraced 1,276 coronavirus-positive volunteers aged from 11 to 93 who had no COVID-19 symptoms .
`` The idea is that many hope that after having mild forms of the disease they could be spared from it .
Practice however shows that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people should not relax .
The immunity stratum is not that thick , '' the press service said .
The tests on the basis of enzyme-linked immunoassay were conducted from early April .
`` Men and women in all age categories had similar representation .
The study has demonstrated that only 5.6 % of participants , or 69 % of patients , have antibodies to the coronavirus , '' it said .
The study was conducted by the Virology Center that was set up on April 1 .
It is the second after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ laboratory ( St. Petersburg ’ s Hygiene and Epidemiology Center ) in terms of tests .
More than 22,000 tests have been conducted by the center since April 1 .
According to the latest update , a total of 9,486 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in St. Petersburg .
The city is third among Russian regions , after Moscow and the Moscow region , in terms of coronavirus incidence .
As many as 2,005 patients in St. Petersburg have recovered and 74 have died .

ST. PETERSBURG, May 15. /TASS/. Less than six percent of symptomless coronavirus patients have antibodies to the virus, the press service of St. Petersburg’s health committee told TASS on Friday, citing the results of the study conducted by the Virology Center of St. Petersburg’s Hospital No 40.
The study embraced 1,276 coronavirus-positive volunteers aged from 11 to 93 who had no COVID-19 symptoms.
"The idea is that many hope that after having mild forms of the disease they could be spared from it. Practice however shows that it is not so. So, people should not relax. The immunity stratum is not that thick," the press service said.
The tests on the basis of enzyme-linked immunoassay were conducted from early April. "Men and women in all age categories had similar representation. The study has demonstrated that only 5.6% of participants, or 69% of patients, have antibodies to the coronavirus," it said.
The study was conducted by the Virology Center that was set up on April 1. It is the second after the Russian sanitary watchdog’s reference laboratory (St. Petersburg’s Hygiene and Epidemiology Center) in terms of tests. More than 22,000 tests have been conducted by the center since April 1.
According to the latest update, a total of 9,486 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in St. Petersburg. The city is third among Russian regions, after Moscow and the Moscow region, in terms of coronavirus incidence. As many as 2,005 patients in St. Petersburg have recovered and 74 have died.


tass--2020-05-15--Russian, US diplomats discuss political settlement in Syria

MOSCOW , May 15 .
/TASS/ .
The situation in Syria and political settlement in that country were in focus @ @ @ @ @ Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Vershinin and US Representative for Syria Engagement James Jeffrey , @ @ @ @ @ on Friday .
`` The sides discussed in detail the situation on the ground in @ @ @ @ @ settlement under United Nations Security Council Resolution 2254 , '' the ministry said .
According @ @ @ @ @ conversation took place on May 14 .

MOSCOW, May 15. /TASS/. The situation in Syria and political settlement in that country were in focus of a telephone conversation between Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Vershinin and US Representative for Syria Engagement James Jeffrey, the Russian foreign ministry said on Friday.
"The sides discussed in detail the situation on the ground in Syria and issues of political settlement under United Nations Security Council Resolution 2254," the ministry said.
According to the ministry, the conversation took place on May 14.


tass--2020-05-15--Medics back home from Italy to join mobile reserve — Russian Defense Ministry

MOSCOW , May 15 .
/TASS/ .
The military medical personnel who have returned from Italy after coping with their humanitarian mission will join the mobile reserve and be ready to address further tasks , the Defense Ministry said .
`` Upon arrival at their permanent locations the personnel will carry out equipment maintenance and replenish reserves .
From that moment on they will be in the mobile reserve ready to cope with their routine tasks , '' the Defense Ministry said .
During the operation in Italy the Russian personnel obtained vast practical experience of deployment and operation in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the servicemen gained the experience of using special equipment , which was never used in such an intense mode before .
`` The humanitarian operation , carried out by Russian servicemen , has become a true on-site testing for both the personnel and the equipment , '' it said .
According to the ministry , the effort also helped to practice coordination between Russian military specialists and servicemen of foreign armed forces .
`` The tactics that we had elaborated will help us cooperate in a more prompt and coordinated fashion in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it said .

MOSCOW, May 15. /TASS/. The military medical personnel who have returned from Italy after coping with their humanitarian mission will join the mobile reserve and be ready to address further tasks, the Defense Ministry said.
"Upon arrival at their permanent locations the personnel will carry out equipment maintenance and replenish reserves. From that moment on they will be in the mobile reserve ready to cope with their routine tasks," the Defense Ministry said.
During the operation in Italy the Russian personnel obtained vast practical experience of deployment and operation in epidemic hotspots.
The ministry also said that the servicemen gained the experience of using special equipment, which was never used in such an intense mode before.
"The humanitarian operation, carried out by Russian servicemen, has become a true on-site testing for both the personnel and the equipment," it said.
According to the ministry, the effort also helped to practice coordination between Russian military specialists and servicemen of foreign armed forces.
"The tactics that we had elaborated will help us cooperate in a more prompt and coordinated fashion in case of future epidemiological emergencies," it said.


tass--2020-05-15--Brent prices soaring on ICE

Brent prices soaring on ICE

MOSCOW , May 15 .
/TASS/ .
Brent oil futures prices with delivery in July 2020 gained 5.1 % and @ @ @ @ @ on the London-based ICE today , according to trading data .
The dollar rose 0.1 @ @ @ @ @ the Moscow Exchange .
The euro added 0.2 % to 79.78 rubles .

MOSCOW, May 15. /TASS/. Brent oil futures prices with delivery in July 2020 gained 5.1% and reached $32.72 a barrel on the London-based ICE today, according to trading data.
WTI futures rose 6.2% to $29.62 a barrel.
The dollar rose 0.1% to 73.54 rubles on the Moscow Exchange. The euro added 0.2% to 79.78 rubles.


tass--2020-05-15--100-year-old WWII veteran discharged from hospital in Moscow after recovering from COVID19

`` Today , on May 15 , 2020 , a unique patient was discharged from the Sechenov University ’ s hospital .
Boris Novikov , who turned 100 in March 2020 , a veteran of World War II , has recovered from the coronavirus infection , '' it said .
MOSCOW , May 15 .
/TASS/ .
A 100-year-old veteran of World War II has survived the coronavirus infection and was released from hospital , the press service of the Sechenov University ’ s clinic for infectious diseases said on Friday .
According to the press service , the man @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in condition of moderate gravity , and spent two weeks in the medical institution .
Now he will continue treatment at home and will have to be quarantined for two weeks .
Medics say it will take several months to cure the remaining minor lung problems .
`` Such patients need much more attentions than others .
He was lucky to be timely diagnosed and taken to our hospital .
Naturally , the patient had concurrent diseases , bearing in mind his age , but he had amazingly strong immunity and stamina @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Treatment of such patients is always a kind of challenge and we showed personalized approach to his treatment .
Thanks to regular case conference , we chose a proper therapy and took the situation under control .
It has helped to avoid serious complications of the coronavirus infection , '' the press service quoted Sergei Yefetov , head of the hospital ’ s department for coronavirus patients , as saying .
Another 100-year-old patient , a woman , was discharged from the Brain and Neurotechnologies Center of Russia ’ s Federal Medical Biological @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

"Today, on May 15, 2020, a unique patient was discharged from the Sechenov University’s hospital. Boris Novikov, who turned 100 in March 2020, a veteran of World War II, has recovered from the coronavirus infection," it said.
MOSCOW, May 15. /TASS/. A 100-year-old veteran of World War II has survived the coronavirus infection and was released from hospital, the press service of the Sechenov University’s clinic for infectious diseases said on Friday.
According to the press service, the man was taken to hospital with double pneumonia, in condition of moderate gravity, and spent two weeks in the medical institution. Now he will continue treatment at home and will have to be quarantined for two weeks. Medics say it will take several months to cure the remaining minor lung problems.
"Such patients need much more attentions than others. He was lucky to be timely diagnosed and taken to our hospital. Naturally, the patient had concurrent diseases, bearing in mind his age, but he had amazingly strong immunity and stamina for a man of his age. Treatment of such patients is always a kind of challenge and we showed personalized approach to his treatment. Thanks to regular case conference, we chose a proper therapy and took the situation under control. It has helped to avoid serious complications of the coronavirus infection," the press service quoted Sergei Yefetov, head of the hospital’s department for coronavirus patients, as saying.
Another 100-year-old patient, a woman, was discharged from the Brain and Neurotechnologies Center of Russia’s Federal Medical Biological Agency on May 13 after coronavirus therapy.


tass--2020-05-15--First lot of US oil to be shipped to Belarus this week, says US Secretary of State

`` This week , the first shipment of US crude oil will depart for Belarus .
This competitive deal , by US energy trader United Energy Trading , with the assistance of US firm Getka and their Polish partner UNIMOT , strengthens Belarusian sovereignty and independence , demonstrates that the United States is ready to deliver trade opportunities for American companies interested in entering the Belarusian market , and fulfills the commitment the United States made to Belarus in February with government leaders in Minsk , '' Pompeo said .
WASHINGTON , May 15 .
/TASS/ .
The first shipment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Belarus this week , US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo said in a written statement released by the US Department of State on Friday .
The United States is ready to meet the demand of Belarus for energy resources , the US Secretary of State said .
`` As the biggest oil and gas producer in the world , the United States stands ready to meet the import requirements of countries that , like Belarus , want to benefit from enhanced energy security based on supply diversification and trade rooted in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the rule of law , and transparent deals free of corruption , '' he noted .
`` The United States urges Belarus to build on the progress it has made to increase the access of American businesses to its market and undertake the market-oriented , trade-liberalizing reforms necessary to advance its WTO accession process , '' Pompeo said .
`` These developments will help Belarus unlock its full trade and investment potential and secure its future .
The United States looks forward to continuing to strengthen our partnership , '' he added .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of State confirmed readiness of US companies to immediately start oil supplies at competitive prices in the telephone conversation with his Belarusian counterpart Vladimir Makei .
Pompeo also stated that no political obstacles are in place to make relevant oil supply arrangements between companies of the two countries .

"This week, the first shipment of US crude oil will depart for Belarus. This competitive deal, by US energy trader United Energy Trading, with the assistance of US firm Getka and their Polish partner UNIMOT, strengthens Belarusian sovereignty and independence, demonstrates that the United States is ready to deliver trade opportunities for American companies interested in entering the Belarusian market, and fulfills the commitment the United States made to Belarus in February with government leaders in Minsk," Pompeo said.
WASHINGTON, May 15. /TASS/. The first shipment of the US oil will be dispatched to Belarus this week, US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo said in a written statement released by the US Department of State on Friday.
The United States is ready to meet the demand of Belarus for energy resources, the US Secretary of State said. "As the biggest oil and gas producer in the world, the United States stands ready to meet the import requirements of countries that, like Belarus, want to benefit from enhanced energy security based on supply diversification and trade rooted in the U.S. commercial values of free enterprise, the rule of law, and transparent deals free of corruption," he noted.
"The United States urges Belarus to build on the progress it has made to increase the access of American businesses to its market and undertake the market-oriented, trade-liberalizing reforms necessary to advance its WTO accession process," Pompeo said. "These developments will help Belarus unlock its full trade and investment potential and secure its future. The United States looks forward to continuing to strengthen our partnership," he added.
On March 13, the US Secretary of State confirmed readiness of US companies to immediately start oil supplies at competitive prices in the telephone conversation with his Belarusian counterpart Vladimir Makei. Pompeo also stated that no political obstacles are in place to make relevant oil supply arrangements between companies of the two countries.


tass--2020-05-15--Russia ready for joint efforts with Bosnia-Herzegovina to combat pandemic

`` We would like to hope that as far as combating the coronavirus infection is concerned , while making critically important decisions all the sides and political forces will be guided only by considerations of saving people ’ s lives .
And this goal is unattainable without consolidation of resources , '' the ministry said .
`` There is no room for dirty geopolitical games here .
Russia has repeatedly demonstrated in practice its readiness for joint efforts and stays committed to this principles position in the face of the infection threat that is still in place . ''
MOSCOW @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continues to demonstrate its readiness to pool efforts with Bosnia-Herzegovina to combat the coronavirus pandemic , the Russian foreign ministry said on Friday .
The ministry recalled that in late April Bosnia-Herzegovina had had asked Russia for helping it disinfect the premises and provide consultancy at the University Clinic in the city of Mostar .
`` It was planned to use the experience of specialized teams of Russian military medics who has been helping Serbia cope with the coronavirus pandemic since April 3 and who performed a similar mission in Bosnia-Herzegovina ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and who had previously offered assistance to Italy , '' the ministry noted .
Russian specialists responded to the cry for help but Bosnian Security Minister Fahrudin Radoncic turned down the Russian embassy ’ s request for the entry of a Russian humanitarian convoy , saying he was not authorized for that as such issues are in the competence of Bosnia-Herzegovina ’ s Presidium .
`` Regrettably , these plans have failed to be implemented because of either unpreparedness or lack of coordination in the Bosnian administration as Russian military medics failed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , people in Bosnia-Herzegovina have been left without long-awaited help , '' the ministry stressed .

"We would like to hope that as far as combating the coronavirus infection is concerned , while making critically important decisions all the sides and political forces will be guided only by considerations of saving people’s lives. And this goal is unattainable without consolidation of resources," the ministry said. "There is no room for dirty geopolitical games here. Russia has repeatedly demonstrated in practice its readiness for joint efforts and stays committed to this principles position in the face of the infection threat that is still in place."
MOSCOW, May 15. /TASS/. Russia continues to demonstrate its readiness to pool efforts with Bosnia-Herzegovina to combat the coronavirus pandemic, the Russian foreign ministry said on Friday.
The ministry recalled that in late April Bosnia-Herzegovina had had asked Russia for helping it disinfect the premises and provide consultancy at the University Clinic in the city of Mostar. "It was planned to use the experience of specialized teams of Russian military medics who has been helping Serbia cope with the coronavirus pandemic since April 3 and who performed a similar mission in Bosnia-Herzegovina’s Republika Srpska from April 9 to 23 and who had previously offered assistance to Italy," the ministry noted.
Russian specialists responded to the cry for help but Bosnian Security Minister Fahrudin Radoncic turned down the Russian embassy’s request for the entry of a Russian humanitarian convoy, saying he was not authorized for that as such issues are in the competence of Bosnia-Herzegovina’s Presidium.
"Regrettably, these plans have failed to be implemented because of either unpreparedness or lack of coordination in the Bosnian administration as Russian military medics failed to obtain necessary permits. As a result, people in Bosnia-Herzegovina have been left without long-awaited help," the ministry stressed.


tass--2020-05-15--European Commission not involved in German regulator’s decision on Nord Stream 2

BRUSSELS , May 15 .
/TASS/ .
The European Commission was not involved in the decision taken by the German @ @ @ @ @ Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project from requirements of the revised EU gas directive , @ @ @ @ @ on Friday .
`` The Commission takes note of the decision by the Bundesnetzagentur [ @ @ @ @ @ ] today ( 15 May ) , on the request submitted by Nord Stream 2 @ @ @ @ @ rules of the Gas Directive applying to interconnectors with third countries completed by 23 May @ @ @ @ @ said .
`` In line with the Gas Directive , this decision was taken at @ @ @ @ @ Commission was not involved in the decision-making procedure , '' the spokesperson added .
The @ @ @ @ @ ( Bundesnetzagentur ) refused Nord Stream 2 AG in withdrawing the Nord Stream 2 project @ @ @ @ @ updated EU Gas Directive , the regulator said earlier on Friday .
The Nord Stream @ @ @ @ @ ready to date , as reported earlier .

BRUSSELS, May 15. /TASS/. The European Commission was not involved in the decision taken by the German regulator not to exempt the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project from requirements of the revised EU gas directive, a EC spokesperson told TASS on Friday.
"The Commission takes note of the decision by the Bundesnetzagentur [the German regulator - TASS] today (15 May), on the request submitted by Nord Stream 2 for a derogation from the rules of the Gas Directive applying to interconnectors with third countries completed by 23 May 2019," the spokesperson said. "In line with the Gas Directive, this decision was taken at national level, and the Commission was not involved in the decision-making procedure," the spokesperson added.
The Federal Network Agency of Germany (Bundesnetzagentur) refused Nord Stream 2 AG in withdrawing the Nord Stream 2 project from the rules of the updated EU Gas Directive, the regulator said earlier on Friday.
The Nord Stream 2 project is 93% ready to date, as reported earlier.


tass--2020-05-15--People complicit in uploading photos of Nazis to Immortal Regiment website identified

MOSCOW , May 15 .
/TASS/ .
Investigators have identified IP addresses that were used to upload photos of Hitler @ @ @ @ @ of the Immortal Regiment march held virtually this year due to the coronavirus pandemic as @ @ @ @ @ complicit in this crime , spokesperson for the Russian Investigative Committee Svetlana Petrenko told reporters @ @ @ @ @ investigation identified IP addresses that were employed to attempt to upload false content as well @ @ @ @ @ few dozens of people are complicit in these wrongful actions , primarily foreigners , '' @ @ @ @ @ more than 10 Russians living across the country were also involved .
Petrenko earlier revealed @ @ @ @ @ persons uploaded a picture of Reichsfuhrer of the Schutzstaffel and a leading member of the @ @ @ @ @ Himmler with a mismatching caption claiming that it was a photo of colonel Alekseyev V. @ @ @ @ @ also uploaded with a similar trick employed .
The investigation is checking other attempts to @ @ @ @

MOSCOW, May 15. /TASS/. Investigators have identified IP addresses that were used to upload photos of Hitler and Himmler on the website of the Immortal Regiment march held virtually this year due to the coronavirus pandemic as well as dozens of people complicit in this crime, spokesperson for the Russian Investigative Committee Svetlana Petrenko told reporters on Friday.
"The investigation identified IP addresses that were employed to attempt to upload false content as well as their owners. A few dozens of people are complicit in these wrongful actions, primarily foreigners," she stressed, adding that more than 10 Russians living across the country were also involved.
Petrenko earlier revealed that by May 10 unidentified persons uploaded a picture of Reichsfuhrer of the Schutzstaffel and a leading member of the Nazi Party of Germany Heinrich Himmler with a mismatching caption claiming that it was a photo of colonel Alekseyev V. A picture of Hitler was also uploaded with a similar trick employed. The investigation is checking other attempts to upload false content.


tass--2020-05-15--Tanker with 80,000 tonnes of US oil for Belarus will arrive in Klaipeda in early June

MINSK , May 15 .
/TASS/ .
A tanker with 80,000 tonnes of American oil for Belarus will leave the United States on May 17 and is expected to arrive in the port of Klaipeda in Lithuania in early June , spokesman of Belneftekhim oil and gas company Alexander Tishchenko told reporters on Friday .
`` Tanker loading started yesterday ( May 14 - TASS ) at the Beaumont port .
Departure from the port is scheduled for May 17 , arrival in Klaipeda [ is expected ] in early June .
Bakken blend , 80,000 tonnes , '' the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ oil will be delivered from Klaipeda to OJSC Naftan in the Vitebsk region by rail .
Earlier US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo said in a statement that the first batch of US oil will go to Belarus this week .
This transaction was concluded with the participation of the US energy trader United Energy Trading , as well as with the assistance of the American company Getka and their Polish partner UNIMOT .
On January 1 , 2020 , Belarus stopped buying Russian oil and demanded that the price formula be changed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was the only oil supplier that continued to supply crude to Belarusian refineries .
Belarus was also buying oil from traders , supplying it via the port of Klaipeda ( Lithuania ) .
Minsk also buys Azerbaijani oil through the port of Odessa ( Ukraine ) and via the Odessa-Brody pipeline .
On late March , Belarus and Russia agreed to resume oil supplies from Russia to the Belarusian refineries .
Belneftekhim reported that it plans to buy 1.13 mln tonnes of Russian oil in May .
Alternative deliveries will also continue .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 87,000 tonnes of Saudi oil for the republic arrived in the Klaipeda port .
According to a report of Russian state oil company Rosneft , as part of the development of cooperation with Belarus , the company entered into oil contracts with OJSC Naftan , CJSC BNK and OJSC Mozyr Oil Refinery .
From April to December 2020 , Rosneft will supply 9 million tonnes of oil to the Belarusian refineries .

MINSK, May 15. /TASS/. A tanker with 80,000 tonnes of American oil for Belarus will leave the United States on May 17 and is expected to arrive in the port of Klaipeda in Lithuania in early June, spokesman of Belneftekhim oil and gas company Alexander Tishchenko told reporters on Friday.
"Tanker loading started yesterday (May 14 - TASS) at the Beaumont port. Departure from the port is scheduled for May 17, arrival in Klaipeda [is expected] in early June. Bakken blend, 80,000 tonnes," the official said.
Tishchenko noted that American oil will be delivered from Klaipeda to OJSC Naftan in the Vitebsk region by rail.
Earlier US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo said in a statement that the first batch of US oil will go to Belarus this week. This transaction was concluded with the participation of the US energy trader United Energy Trading, as well as with the assistance of the American company Getka and their Polish partner UNIMOT.
On January 1, 2020, Belarus stopped buying Russian oil and demanded that the price formula be changed. Mikhail Gutseriev’s Safmar Group was the only oil supplier that continued to supply crude to Belarusian refineries. Belarus was also buying oil from traders, supplying it via the port of Klaipeda (Lithuania). Minsk also buys Azerbaijani oil through the port of Odessa (Ukraine) and via the Odessa-Brody pipeline. On late March, Belarus and Russia agreed to resume oil supplies from Russia to the Belarusian refineries.
Belneftekhim reported that it plans to buy 1.13 mln tonnes of Russian oil in May. Alternative deliveries will also continue. Earlier this month, a tanker with 87,000 tonnes of Saudi oil for the republic arrived in the Klaipeda port.
According to a report of Russian state oil company Rosneft, as part of the development of cooperation with Belarus, the company entered into oil contracts with OJSC Naftan, CJSC BNK and OJSC Mozyr Oil Refinery. From April to December 2020, Rosneft will supply 9 million tonnes of oil to the Belarusian refineries.


tass--2020-05-15--UK nears 34,000 coronavirus infections

UK nears 34,000 coronavirus infections

LONDON , May 15 .
/TASS/ .
The number of infections in the United Kingdom has topped 236,000 , while the number of fatalities has climbed to 33,600 after 428 people died over the past 24 hours , the national health department said in a statement Friday .
`` 1,663,492 people have been tested , of which 236,711 tested positive .
As of 5pm on 14 May , of those tested positive for coronavirus in the UK , 33,998 have died , '' the agency said , adding `` This new figure includes deaths in all settings , not just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the death rate has been steadily decreasing since mid-April .
The number of newly confirmed cases and hospitalized coronavirus patients is also gradually declining .
The United Kingdom started to slowly roll back lockdown measures imposed on March 23 to curb the spread of coronavirus .
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that the epidemiological reports allow the government to take these steps since the risk of an infection spike in minimal .
At the same time , the opposition and British trade unions slam this decision of the authorities as premature @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with May 13 , citizens are allowed to exercise and do sports outside more than once as well as sunbathe and drive to remote places for leisure .
Construction workers and employees of many industries who can not work from home were cleared to go back to work .
Garden centers will also reopen .
Johnson conceded that many other shops could welcome customers back in June as well as partially schools , while certain hotels and other public spaces could be cleared to reopen .

LONDON, May 15. /TASS/. The number of infections in the United Kingdom has topped 236,000, while the number of fatalities has climbed to 33,600 after 428 people died over the past 24 hours, the national health department said in a statement Friday.
"1,663,492 people have been tested, of which 236,711 tested positive. As of 5pm on 14 May, of those tested positive for coronavirus in the UK, 33,998 have died," the agency said, adding "This new figure includes deaths in all settings, not just in hospitals."
Yesterday, the authorities reported 428 new deaths.
British authorities claim that the death rate has been steadily decreasing since mid-April. The number of newly confirmed cases and hospitalized coronavirus patients is also gradually declining.
The United Kingdom started to slowly roll back lockdown measures imposed on March 23 to curb the spread of coronavirus. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that the epidemiological reports allow the government to take these steps since the risk of an infection spike in minimal. At the same time, the opposition and British trade unions slam this decision of the authorities as premature and not properly thought out.
Starting with May 13, citizens are allowed to exercise and do sports outside more than once as well as sunbathe and drive to remote places for leisure. Construction workers and employees of many industries who cannot work from home were cleared to go back to work. Garden centers will also reopen. Johnson conceded that many other shops could welcome customers back in June as well as partially schools, while certain hotels and other public spaces could be cleared to reopen.


tass--2020-05-15--Russian sailors kidnapped in Gulf of Guinea are alive, says Russian embassy

PRETORIA , May 15 .
/TASS/ .
Russian sailors kidnapped by pirates off Equatorial Guinea on May 9 are alive , but two of them were hurt , the Russian embassy in Cameroon , which is also accredited in the Republic of Equatorial Guinea , said on Friday .
`` According to the available information , Russian sailors kidnapped by pirates off Equatorial Guinea are alive .
Two of them are slightly injured .
The hostages are presumably kept in the territory of Nigeria , '' the embassy said on its Facebook page .
`` The ship ’ s owner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taking measures for their release . ''
One of the Russian citizens , who had been taken to the hospital for treatment , is reported to have been released and another is under medical observation .
On May 9 , two ships were attacked in the territorial waters of Equatorial Guinea and three Russians were abducted - one from the ship RIO MITTONG , moored off Malabo , and two others from the research vessel DJIBLOHO , anchored off Luba .
The Gulf of Guinea is one of the areas of the world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in recent years .

PRETORIA, May 15. /TASS/. Russian sailors kidnapped by pirates off Equatorial Guinea on May 9 are alive, but two of them were hurt, the Russian embassy in Cameroon, which is also accredited in the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, said on Friday.
"According to the available information, Russian sailors kidnapped by pirates off Equatorial Guinea are alive. Two of them are slightly injured. The hostages are presumably kept in the territory of Nigeria," the embassy said on its Facebook page. "The ship’s owner and the authorities of Equatorial Guinea are taking measures for their release."
One of the Russian citizens, who had been taken to the hospital for treatment, is reported to have been released and another is under medical observation.
On May 9, two ships were attacked in the territorial waters of Equatorial Guinea and three Russians were abducted - one from the ship RIO MITTONG, moored off Malabo, and two others from the research vessel DJIBLOHO, anchored off Luba.
The Gulf of Guinea is one of the areas of the world ocean where pirate attacks were most frequent in recent years.


tass--2020-05-15--Belarus confirms signing agreements with Russia on oil supplies in 2020

MINSK , May 15 .
/TASS/ .
Minsk has confirmed signing contracts with Russian oil company Rosneft for the supply of up to 9 mln tonnes of oil to Belarusian refineries in April-December 2020 by stating that these contracts are `` part of the indicative balance . ''
This is according to a statement spokesman of Belarusian oil and gas company Belneftekhim Alexander Tishchenko made on Friday .
Earlier Rosneft announced that it had concluded agreements for the period from April to December 2020 with OJSC Naftan , CJSC BNK and OJSC Mozyr Oil Refinery .
Under these agreements , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ oil to the Belarusian refineries in 2020 .
`` The agreement in question is the standard format for formalizing cooperation for a year .
In the framework of the signed intergovernmental agreement between Belarus and Russia , an indicative balance of oil supplies for 2020has been determined , which is 24 mln tonnes .
In order to implement that [ intergovernmental ] agreement such agreements are signed annually with all suppliers , '' Tishchenko said .
According to him , `` the contracts formally determine the indicative balance of supplies , taking into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In fact , they [ contracts ] fix the capabilities of Belarusian plants for orders and Russian companies for deliveries .
Monthly volumes and prices of deliveries are fixed in additional agreements , '' the spokesman noted .

MINSK, May 15. /TASS/. Minsk has confirmed signing contracts with Russian oil company Rosneft for the supply of up to 9 mln tonnes of oil to Belarusian refineries in April-December 2020 by stating that these contracts are "part of the indicative balance." This is according to a statement spokesman of Belarusian oil and gas company Belneftekhim Alexander Tishchenko made on Friday.
Earlier Rosneft announced that it had concluded agreements for the period from April to December 2020 with OJSC Naftan, CJSC BNK and OJSC Mozyr Oil Refinery. Under these agreements, Rosneft will supply 9 million tonnes of oil to the Belarusian refineries in 2020.
"The agreement in question is the standard format for formalizing cooperation for a year. In the framework of the signed intergovernmental agreement between Belarus and Russia, an indicative balance of oil supplies for 2020has been determined, which is 24 mln tonnes. In order to implement that [intergovernmental] agreement such agreements are signed annually with all suppliers," Tishchenko said.
According to him, "the contracts formally determine the indicative balance of supplies, taking into account a specific supplier."
"In fact, they [contracts] fix the capabilities of Belarusian plants for orders and Russian companies for deliveries. Monthly volumes and prices of deliveries are fixed in additional agreements," the spokesman noted.


tass--2020-05-15--Russia, India must avoid involvement in China-US standoff, says expert

MOSCOW , May 15 .
/TASS/ .
Russia and India should by all means avoid involvement in the growing standoff between the United States and China .
They might also spearhead the group of countries that would like to steer clear of this confrontation , the research director of the international discussion club Valdai , Fyodor Lukyanov , told a joint webinar of the Valdai club and the Indian think tank Observer Research Foundation ( ORF ) .
`` We should by all means stay away from the flywheel of the US-Chinese confrontation , which is gaining momentum .
One @ @ @ @ @ @ @ foreign policy in the foreseeable future will be to accurately build a system of counterbalances that would on the one hand prevent us from being involved in this confrontation , and on the other hand , enable us to use the fact that there are some other countries that have absolutely no intention to participate in it .
Their interests differ , but also their interests may coincide in different ways , '' Lukyanov said .
`` There is a common task of positioning oneself in the new world in a new way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can play the role of flagships . ''
Lukyanov recalled that two years ago some participants in Valdai discussions voiced ideas that Russia and India should pool efforts to avoid getting drawn into the US-Chinese confrontation .
At that moment many regarded that as a very hypothetical possibility .
Now it is turning into an applied task .
Senior research fellow Vasily Kashin , of the Russian Academy of Sciences ’ Institute of the Far East , said that amid the pandemic the logic of US internal politics will be that of pushing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conflict with China into high gear and of blaming it for the coronavirus crisis .
`` On the other hand , in China we can see growing nationalism , stronger popular unity , and changes being made to the style of Chinese diplomacy , which has turned very harsh .
From time to time China voices personal insults against US officials , which was utterly inconceivable just recently , '' Kashin said .
`` The conflict is aggravating and the current surge of nationalism and hostility between the two countries may result in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such measures as the introduction of protectionist barriers , sanctions and accelerated pullout of US manufacturing operations from China .
Such steps may harm both countries and bring about `` structural changes in global politics and the global economy . ''
`` What makes the role of Russia and India so special is that the outcome of the US-Chinese standoff will depend on them .
The key role of Russia and India is more than obvious to many in the United States and China , '' he said .
`` Our position implies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ risky at the same time .
It will be quite logical for us to step up our political consultations and political coordination and to give thought to practical cooperation guidelines that would enable us to put greater emphasis on bilateral cooperation . ''
He underscored the need for pushing ahead with cooperation in security , energy and economic ties .
More active joint work would let Russia and India enhance their strategic autonomy amid global instability , Kashin believes .

MOSCOW, May 15. /TASS/. Russia and India should by all means avoid involvement in the growing standoff between the United States and China. They might also spearhead the group of countries that would like to steer clear of this confrontation, the research director of the international discussion club Valdai, Fyodor Lukyanov, told a joint webinar of the Valdai club and the Indian think tank Observer Research Foundation (ORF).
"We should by all means stay away from the flywheel of the US-Chinese confrontation, which is gaining momentum. One of the tasks of Russia’s foreign policy in the foreseeable future will be to accurately build a system of counterbalances that would on the one hand prevent us from being involved in this confrontation, and on the other hand, enable us to use the fact that there are some other countries that have absolutely no intention to participate in it. Their interests differ, but also their interests may coincide in different ways," Lukyanov said. "There is a common task of positioning oneself in the new world in a new way. I think that India and Russia can play the role of flagships."
Lukyanov recalled that two years ago some participants in Valdai discussions voiced ideas that Russia and India should pool efforts to avoid getting drawn into the US-Chinese confrontation. At that moment many regarded that as a very hypothetical possibility. Now it is turning into an applied task.
Global changes
Senior research fellow Vasily Kashin, of the Russian Academy of Sciences’ Institute of the Far East, said that amid the pandemic the logic of US internal politics will be that of pushing many political forces towards shifting the external conflict with China into high gear and of blaming it for the coronavirus crisis. "On the other hand, in China we can see growing nationalism, stronger popular unity, and changes being made to the style of Chinese diplomacy, which has turned very harsh. From time to time China voices personal insults against US officials, which was utterly inconceivable just recently," Kashin said. "The conflict is aggravating and the current surge of nationalism and hostility between the two countries may result in mutually destructive measures."
Kashin mentioned such measures as the introduction of protectionist barriers, sanctions and accelerated pullout of US manufacturing operations from China. Such steps may harm both countries and bring about "structural changes in global politics and the global economy."
"What makes the role of Russia and India so special is that the outcome of the US-Chinese standoff will depend on them. The key role of Russia and India is more than obvious to many in the United States and China," he said. "Our position implies certain opportunities, but it is rather risky at the same time. It will be quite logical for us to step up our political consultations and political coordination and to give thought to practical cooperation guidelines that would enable us to put greater emphasis on bilateral cooperation."
He underscored the need for pushing ahead with cooperation in security, energy and economic ties. More active joint work would let Russia and India enhance their strategic autonomy amid global instability, Kashin believes.