tass--2020-01-27--Macron notes Red Army’s role in liberation of Auschwitz

`` On January 27 , 1945 , the brave soldiers of the Red Army set foot behind the barbed wire of the concentration camp , '' the president reminded .
`` They did not know yet at that moment that they are walking over the ashes of a mass grave where over a million people had perished . ''
There were over 75,000 French citizens killed at the camp .
PARIS , January 27 .
/TASS/ .
French President Emmanuel Macron has highlighted the role of Soviet soldiers in the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ memorial in Paris during a memorial ceremony timed to the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz .
`` Our duty is to remember the past , remember all Holocaust victims to build the present , '' Macron continued .
`` We need to keep telling the new generations about this tragedy . ''
The French leader warned of the danger of the return of antisemitism in Europe .
`` The return of antisemitism is not the problem of the Jewish nation , it is our common problem , '' he stressed .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ unacceptable to tolerate racism , denial of Nazi crimes , encroachment on historic heritage and ideals . ''
`` We must not give in , '' the president said .
`` The work on immortalizing the memory of the victims is not over , we need to gather all the facts and fight against obscurity , '' Macron stated .
`` This is the goal of the Holocaust memorial , where an updated memorial wall has been inaugurated today , '' he said .
January 27 marks International Holocaust Remembrance Day , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of millions of innocent people murdered at the hands of Nazi Germany .
On this date 75 years ago , the Auschwitz concentration camp was liberated by the Red Army .
According to various sources , 1.5-2 mln people were killed at the camp , including 15,000 Soviet citizens .

"On January 27, 1945, the brave soldiers of the Red Army set foot behind the barbed wire of the concentration camp," the president reminded. "They did not know yet at that moment that they are walking over the ashes of a mass grave where over a million people had perished." There were over 75,000 French citizens killed at the camp.
PARIS, January 27. /TASS/. French President Emmanuel Macron has highlighted the role of Soviet soldiers in the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland, he said during a speech at the Shoah memorial in Paris during a memorial ceremony timed to the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz.
"Our duty is to remember the past, remember all Holocaust victims to build the present," Macron continued. "We need to keep telling the new generations about this tragedy."
The French leader warned of the danger of the return of antisemitism in Europe. "The return of antisemitism is not the problem of the Jewish nation, it is our common problem," he stressed. According to Macron, "it is unacceptable to tolerate racism, denial of Nazi crimes, encroachment on historic heritage and ideals." "We must not give in," the president said.
"The work on immortalizing the memory of the victims is not over, we need to gather all the facts and fight against obscurity," Macron stated. "This is the goal of the Holocaust memorial, where an updated memorial wall has been inaugurated today," he said.
January 27 marks International Holocaust Remembrance Day, a day when the world honors the memory of millions of innocent people murdered at the hands of Nazi Germany. On this date 75 years ago, the Auschwitz concentration camp was liberated by the Red Army. According to various sources, 1.5-2 mln people were killed at the camp, including 15,000 Soviet citizens.


tass--2020-01-27--Plane that crashed in Afghanistan might belong to US Air Force — TV

CAIRO , January 27 .
/TASS/ .
A plane that crashed in Afghanistan on Monday might belong to the US @ @ @ @ @ TV channel reports .
The markings on the plane ’ s right engine bear resemblance @ @ @ @ @ US Air Force , the channel informs , publishing alleged video footage from the crash @ @

CAIRO, January 27. /TASS/. A plane that crashed in Afghanistan on Monday might belong to the US Air Force, the TOLOnews TV channel reports.
The markings on the plane’s right engine bear resemblance to those belonging to the US Air Force, the channel informs, publishing alleged video footage from the crash site.


tass--2020-01-27--China's Hainan confirms first death from coronavirus

BEIJING , JAnuary 27 .
/TASS/ .
China ’ s Hainan province confirmed on Monday that an 80-year-old woman has died after being infected with the coronavirus ( 2019-nCoV ) , marking the province ’ s first fatality in the rapidly spreading outbreak , healthcare officials confirmed on Monday .
According to the Chinese authorities , the 80-year-old resident of the province , who traveled on January 17 from Wuhan , passed away .
The number of infected on the island has exceeded 30 , four of them are in serious condition .
According to statistics , ten cases were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ southern Hainan , seven — in the city of Wanning ( eastern part of the island ) , six in the administrative center of the province , Haikou , and four more in other towns .
On December 31 , 2019 , Chinese authorities informed the World Health Organization ( WHO ) about an outbreak of an unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan — a large trade and industrial center in central China populated by 11 million people .
On January 7 , Chinese experts identified the infecting agent — coronavirus 2019-nCoV @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in China reached 2,800 , with 81 deaths reported .
The new type of coronavirus has already been identified in almost all Chinese provinces including Beijing and Shanghai as well as in other countries — Australia , Malaysia , Nepal , France , Thailand , Vietnam , South Korea , Singapore , the United States and Japan .
The WHO recognized the pneumonia outbreak in China as a national emergency but stopped short of declaring an international one .

BEIJING, JAnuary 27. /TASS/. China’s Hainan province confirmed on Monday that an 80-year-old woman has died after being infected with the coronavirus (2019-nCoV), marking the province’s first fatality in the rapidly spreading outbreak, healthcare officials confirmed on Monday.
According to the Chinese authorities, the 80-year-old resident of the province, who traveled on January 17 from Wuhan, passed away. The number of infected on the island has exceeded 30, four of them are in serious condition. According to statistics, ten cases were reported in the city of Sanya in southern Hainan, seven — in the city of Wanning (eastern part of the island), six in the administrative center of the province, Haikou, and four more in other towns.
On December 31, 2019, Chinese authorities informed the World Health Organization (WHO) about an outbreak of an unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan — a large trade and industrial center in central China populated by 11 million people. On January 7, Chinese experts identified the infecting agent — coronavirus 2019-nCoV.
According to the latest data, the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in China reached 2,800, with 81 deaths reported. The new type of coronavirus has already been identified in almost all Chinese provinces including Beijing and Shanghai as well as in other countries — Australia, Malaysia, Nepal, France, Thailand, Vietnam, South Korea, Singapore, the United States and Japan. The WHO recognized the pneumonia outbreak in China as a national emergency but stopped short of declaring an international one.


tass--2020-01-27--Moscow carrier to return Chinese tourists in Russia to Nanjing, Shenzhen amid virus scare

MOSCOW , January 27./TASS/ .
Russia ’ s iFly airline , a Moscow-based carrier , servicing clients from Russia ’ @ @ @ @ @ will return Chinese tourists from Russia to the Chinese cities of Nanjing and Shenzhen before @ @ @ @ @ ’ s press service told TASS on Monday .
Russia ’ s Nordwind carrier has @ @ @ @ @ the same .
Flights will be suspended amid fears over the outbreak of the newly-discovered @ @ @ @

MOSCOW, January 27./TASS/. Russia’s iFly airline, a Moscow-based carrier, servicing clients from Russia’s Tez Tour operator, will return Chinese tourists from Russia to the Chinese cities of Nanjing and Shenzhen before February 9, the airline’s press service told TASS on Monday.
Russia’s Nordwind carrier has also said it would do the same. Flights will be suspended amid fears over the outbreak of the newly-discovered coronavirus in China.


tass--2020-01-27--CleanEquity® Monaco 2020 - Companies and Collaborations

LONDON , Jan. 27 , 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- CleanEquity® , the sustainable technology innovation forum , cofounded by His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco & Mungo Park , Chairman of Innovator Capital , kicks off on 25th March .
London based , specialist investment bank , Innovator Capital 's ( `` ICL '' ) CleanEquity® team will review over 600 technologies for this 13th anniversary and is pleased to share the first tranche of presenting companies for 2020 : ICL is delighted to announce two new collaborations this year with BP Ventures and Earth Capital .
Nacho Gimenez @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Middle East , BP Ventures : '' BP Ventures is delighted to be joining CleanEquity Monaco 2020 .
We are looking forward to meeting innovators and investors in game-changing technologies .
Venturing plays a key role in BP 's strategy to tackle the dual challenge of meeting the world 's need for more energy , while at the same time reducing carbon emissions .
Through venturing , we are developing and growing new energy businesses that could help us achieve our low carbon ambitions . ''
`` Earth Capital has been attending CleanEquity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year we felt it fitting to increase our support and commitment to this first-class event that brings together the brightest entrepreneurial minds and leading investors completely focused on sustainable technology .
We will be participating in a plenary session , sharing thought leadership from our team of sustainable finance experts and working with Innovator Capital to ensure this is the most successful event yet .
Earth Capital are pioneers of sustainable investing , founded over a decade ago by Stephen Lansdown and myself .
As global private equity investment managers with $ 1.6bn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and deployment of sustainable technology , and this is why CleanEquity Monaco is a regular fixture in our calendar and something we are pleased to be a part of .
We look forward to meeting the presenting companies and fellow investors with the hope of developing businesses internationally and creating value for both them and our investors . ''
ICL will be working with Parkview International for the fifth year .
Parkview is a global property development company founded in the 1950s .
One of its recent projects , 200,000 sqm Parkview Green @ @ @ @ @ @ @ project in China to be awarded the LEED ( Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design ) Platinum certification .
Parkview believes there is a responsibility to build better and by sponsoring an event such as CleanEquity 's prestigious platform for innovative renewable technologies , Parkview hopes to play a bigger role in this change going forward .
Cranfield University is also returning .
ICL is grateful for the continued support and Professor Tom Stephenson FREng , Pro-Vice-Chancellor - Research & Innovation at Cranfield , commented : '' Cranfield University through its grand research @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resilient infrastructure , security for development and smart living , is committed to creating an environment where small innovative businesses can thrive .
We are delighted to be supporting CleanEquity Monaco 2020 it provides a fantastic arena for green technology start-up companies , with sustainability at their core , to seek out investment and realise their high-growth potential . ''
For further information about attending CleanEquity® 2020 , use the contact details below or visit the conference website : www.cleanequitymonaco.com

LONDON, Jan. 27, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- CleanEquity®, the sustainable technology innovation forum, cofounded by His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco & Mungo Park, Chairman of Innovator Capital, kicks off on 25th March.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
London based, specialist investment bank, Innovator Capital's ("ICL") CleanEquity® team will review over 600 technologies for this 13th anniversary and is pleased to share the first tranche of presenting companies for 2020:
ICL is delighted to announce two new collaborations this year with BP Ventures and Earth Capital.
Nacho Gimenez, Managing Director for Europe and the Middle East, BP Ventures:
"BP Ventures is delighted to be joining CleanEquity Monaco 2020. We are looking forward to meeting innovators and investors in game-changing technologies. Venturing plays a key role in BP's strategy to tackle the dual challenge of meeting the world's need for more energy, while at the same time reducing carbon emissions. Through venturing, we are developing and growing new energy businesses that could help us achieve our low carbon ambitions."
Gordon Power, CIO, Earth Capital:
"Earth Capital has been attending CleanEquity Monaco since 2010 and for our 10th year we felt it fitting to increase our support and commitment to this first-class event that brings together the brightest entrepreneurial minds and leading investors completely focused on sustainable technology.
We will be participating in a plenary session, sharing thought leadership from our team of sustainable finance experts and working with Innovator Capital to ensure this is the most successful event yet.
Earth Capital are pioneers of sustainable investing, founded over a decade ago by Stephen Lansdown and myself. As global private equity investment managers with $1.6bn AUM we invest capital in the commercialisation and deployment of sustainable technology, and this is why CleanEquity Monaco is a regular fixture in our calendar and something we are pleased to be a part of. We look forward to meeting the presenting companies and fellow investors with the hope of developing businesses internationally and creating value for both them and our investors."
ICL will be working with Parkview International for the fifth year. Parkview is a global property development company founded in the 1950s. One of its recent projects, 200,000 sqm Parkview Green in Beijing, was the first mixed-use project in China to be awarded the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum certification.
Parkview believes there is a responsibility to build better and by sponsoring an event such as CleanEquity's prestigious platform for innovative renewable technologies, Parkview hopes to play a bigger role in this change going forward.
Cranfield University is also returning. ICL is grateful for the continued support and Professor Tom Stephenson FREng, Pro-Vice-Chancellor - Research & Innovation at Cranfield, commented:
"Cranfield University through its grand research challenges that focus on green technologies, resilient infrastructure, security for development and smart living, is committed to creating an environment where small innovative businesses can thrive. We are delighted to be supporting CleanEquity Monaco 2020 it provides a fantastic arena for green technology start-up companies, with sustainability at their core, to seek out investment and realise their high-growth potential."
For further information about attending CleanEquity® 2020, use the contact details below or visit the conference website: www.cleanequitymonaco.com
Contact:
Innovator Capital
cleanequity@innovator-capital.com
Twitter: @CleanEquity
Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1029336/CEM2020_white_cropped_Logo.jpg


tass--2020-01-27--Death toll from earthquake in Turkey climbs to 41

ANKARA , January 27 .
/TASS/ .
The death toll from the powerful earthquake in eastern Turkey has risen to @ @ @ @ @ more dead body from under the debris , Turkey ’ s Directorate of Disaster and @ @ @ @ @ According to the emergencies service , as many as 1,607 people were hurt .

ANKARA, January 27. /TASS/. The death toll from the powerful earthquake in eastern Turkey has risen to 41 as rescuers recovered one more dead body from under the debris, Turkey’s Directorate of Disaster and Emergency said on Monday.
According to the emergencies service, as many as 1,607 people were hurt.


tass--2020-01-27--Putin recommends investment protection laws to be passed by April 30 — Kremlin

MOSCOW , January 27 .
/TASS/ .
Russian President Vladimir Putin recommended the State Duma and the Russian Government to ensure that legislation for the development of investment protection and encouragement mechanisms is approved by April 30 .
The head of state issued such an assignment for implementation of provisions of his State of the Nation Address to the Federal Assembly , the Kremlin ’ s official website said on Monday .
`` To recommend to the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation in cooperation with the Government of the Russian Federation and with participation of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ approval of federal laws aimed at the development of mechanisms for the protection and encouragement of capital investments and development of the investment activity in the Russian Federation , '' the document says .
`` The deadline is April 30 , 2020 , '' according to the list of assignments .
The head of state earlier highlighted in his State of the Nation Address the need to expedite approval of the package of laws on the protection and encouragement of capital investments .
Russian President Vladimir Putin has handed down instructions to draw @ @ @ @ @ @ @ data and protect citizens ’ rights while processing personal data , says a document published on the Kremlin ’ s website .
The regulations need to be ready by July 1 in compliance with Putin ’ s 2020 State of the Nation Address .
The Russian government and the State Duma ( the lower house of parliament ) are expected to amend the national legislation in order to `` regulate the handling of large amounts of data based on the need to protect citizens ’ rights and freedoms when processing personal information .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ within the same timeframe , amendments need to be made concerning the 2020 launch of a mechanism of experimental legal modes to design and introduce new technologies in Russia .

MOSCOW, January 27. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin recommended the State Duma and the Russian Government to ensure that legislation for the development of investment protection and encouragement mechanisms is approved by April 30. The head of state issued such an assignment for implementation of provisions of his State of the Nation Address to the Federal Assembly, the Kremlin’s official website said on Monday.
Read also Highlights of Putin's State of the Nation Address
"To recommend to the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation in cooperation with the Government of the Russian Federation and with participation of leading public associations of entrepreneurs to ensure approval of federal laws aimed at the development of mechanisms for the protection and encouragement of capital investments and development of the investment activity in the Russian Federation," the document says. "The deadline is April 30, 2020," according to the list of assignments. The head of state earlier highlighted in his State of the Nation Address the need to expedite approval of the package of laws on the protection and encouragement of capital investments. Protecting public’s rights in data processing


tass--2020-01-27--Russia hopes PACE will support declaration against revision of World War II

STRASBOURG , January 27 .
/TASS/ .
Russia ’ s delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe hopes for PACE ’ s support for its draft declaration on the impermissibility of the revision of World War II results , the chief Russian delegate , State Duma Deputy Speaker Pyotr Tolstoy said , adding that a sign-up campaign for the document ’ s adoption had already begun .
`` I hope that our colleagues will support our declaration on the impermissibility of revising World War II results , in which we protest in rather harsh terms against the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Poland [ the attempts to ruin monuments to the liberator soldiers ] . ''
`` We have many questions to ask at this session , '' Tolstoy told the media upon arrival at the Palace of Europe .
`` We are constructively minded . ''
`` We will participate in the discussion of all issues on the agenda , we will be actively working in the committees , '' Tolstoy went on .
`` We hope that the powers of our delegation will be confirmed during the voting on the rules of procedure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will take a seat on the PACE Bureau in the capacity of a deputy chair , '' he added .
The senator pledged that Russia ’ s delegation to PACE would leave the assembly ’ s winter session if its rights are restricted .
`` I hope that the reasonable majority won ’ t make this kind of decisions .
But if such a decision is made , we will leave , '' he stated after the Russian delegation ’ s rights had been challenged on substantive grounds and a relevant request had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He added that Russia ’ s opponents called for `` condemning Russia for the constitutional amendments that haven ’ t been adopted yet , '' which `` is strange . ''
`` Other complaints , including the one that said there were Crimean representatives in our delegation , have already been rejected by the Venice Commission , '' Tolstoy noted .
`` This is why I see no legal or political reason for such complaints , '' the Russian delegation head said .
Meanwhile , Chairman of the State Duma ( lower @ @ @ @ @ @ @ revealed that he did believe that the rights of the Russian delegation would be restricted based on a report set to be considered on Wednesday .
PACE members Emanuelis Zingeris of Lithuania and Maria Golubeva of Latviahad earlier challenged the Russian delegation ’ s credentials .
Zingeris claimed that Russia failed to comply with decisions made by the European Court of Human Rights , and Golubeva said that the Russian delegation included Crimean lawmakers and , moreover , Crimean politicians had participated in the Russian parliamentary elections .

The Russian delegation will leave PACE session if its rights are restricted, according to the lawmaker
STRASBOURG, January 27. /TASS/. Russia’s delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe hopes for PACE’s support for its draft declaration on the impermissibility of the revision of World War II results, the chief Russian delegate, State Duma Deputy Speaker Pyotr Tolstoy said, adding that a sign-up campaign for the document’s adoption had already begun.
"We have many questions to ask at this session," Tolstoy told the media upon arrival at the Palace of Europe. "We are constructively minded." "I hope that our colleagues will support our declaration on the impermissibility of revising World War II results, in which we protest in rather harsh terms against the current trend in some countries, including Poland [the attempts to ruin monuments to the liberator soldiers]."
"We will participate in the discussion of all issues on the agenda, we will be actively working in the committees," Tolstoy went on. "We hope that the powers of our delegation will be confirmed during the voting on the rules of procedure. As Russia’s representative I will take a seat on the PACE Bureau in the capacity of a deputy chair," he added. The senator pledged that Russia’s delegation to PACE would leave the assembly’s winter session if its rights are restricted. "I hope that the reasonable majority won’t make this kind of decisions. But if such a decision is made, we will leave," he stated after the Russian delegation’s rights had been challenged on substantive grounds and a relevant request had been sent to the PACE Monitoring Committee. He added that Russia’s opponents called for "condemning Russia for the constitutional amendments that haven’t been adopted yet," which "is strange." "Other complaints, including the one that said there were Crimean representatives in our delegation, have already been rejected by the Venice Commission," Tolstoy noted. "This is why I see no legal or political reason for such complaints," the Russian delegation head said. Meanwhile, Chairman of the State Duma (lower house) Foreign Affairs Committee Leonid Slutsky revealed that he did believe that the rights of the Russian delegation would be restricted based on a report set to be considered on Wednesday. PACE members Emanuelis Zingeris of Lithuania and Maria Golubeva of Latviahad earlier challenged the Russian delegation’s credentials. Zingeris claimed that Russia failed to comply with decisions made by the European Court of Human Rights, and Golubeva said that the Russian delegation included Crimean lawmakers and, moreover, Crimean politicians had participated in the Russian parliamentary elections. Challenge of credentials


tass--2020-01-27--Japanese citizen detained in Russia during attempt to obtain secret data

MOSCOW , January 27 .
/TASS/ .
A Japanese citizen was detained in December in Vladivostok during an attempt to obtain secret data about Russia ’ s military potential , the Russian Foreign Ministry informed TASS on Monday .
`` On December 25 , 2019 , a Japanese citizen was detained in Vladivostok by the Russian law enforcement during an attempt to obtain secret data about Russia ’ s military potential in the Far East , '' the ministry stated .
`` The Russian side issued the Japanese citizen caught red-handed an official warning about the inadmissibility of actions that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in article 276 of Russia ’ s Criminal Code . ''
According to the ministry , he was given 72 hours to leave Russia .
`` On the next day , the Japanese national , who was in Russia on a journalist visa , left for his homeland , '' the statement informs .
Moscow has lodged a protest to Japanese diplomats over actions by a citizen of Japan who tried to gather secret data on Russia ’ s military potential , the Foreign Ministry said .
`` A protest was lodged to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inadmissibility of these actions .
The Foreign Ministry of Russia summoned a counsellor-envoy of the Japanese embassy in Moscow and handed him a note of protest over the unlawful acts by the Japanese citizen , '' the ministry said .

MOSCOW, January 27. /TASS/. A Japanese citizen was detained in December in Vladivostok during an attempt to obtain secret data about Russia’s military potential, the Russian Foreign Ministry informed TASS on Monday.
"On December 25, 2019, a Japanese citizen was detained in Vladivostok by the Russian law enforcement during an attempt to obtain secret data about Russia’s military potential in the Far East," the ministry stated.
"The Russian side issued the Japanese citizen caught red-handed an official warning about the inadmissibility of actions that create conditions for committing a crime stipulated in article 276 of Russia’s Criminal Code." According to the ministry, he was given 72 hours to leave Russia. "On the next day, the Japanese national, who was in Russia on a journalist visa, left for his homeland," the statement informs.
Moscow has lodged a protest to Japanese diplomats over actions by a citizen of Japan who tried to gather secret data on Russia’s military potential, the Foreign Ministry said.
"A protest was lodged to Japanese diplomats accredited in Russia over the inadmissibility of these actions. The Foreign Ministry of Russia summoned a counsellor-envoy of the Japanese embassy in Moscow and handed him a note of protest over the unlawful acts by the Japanese citizen," the ministry said.


tass--2020-01-27--Heavy flamethrowers wipe out enemy force at 50 km distance in Siberia drills

MOSCOW , January 27 .
/TASS/ .
The radiation , chemical and biological protection troops of the 41st all-arms army of Russia ’ s Central Military District stationed in the Altai Region fired the latest TOS-1A Solntsepyok ( Scorching Sun ) heavy flamethrower systems to eliminate a notional enemy ’ s force during drills , the District ’ s press office reported on Monday .
`` Under the drills ’ scenario , the personnel of a radiation , chemical and biological protection large unit was assigned a combat training task to eliminate a notional enemy at a distance of 50 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to employ Solntsepyok heavy flamethrower systems and the tactic of sudden destruction by the firepower , '' the press office said in a statement .
The TOS-1A teams advanced to the designated area , assumed positions and opened fire , the statement says .
`` After the combat training assignment was accomplished , the troops provided for the military hardware ’ s departure by putting up aerosol smokescreens with the help of TDA-3 systems , '' according to the statement .
The drills involved more than 500 troops and 20 items of military @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Solntsepyok ’ is a flamethrower system based on the T-72 tank ’ s chassis .
The flamethrower fires 220mm rockets with the thermobaric warhead .
The Solntsepyok is designated to set ablaze and destroy buildings and structures and the enemy ’ s manpower .

MOSCOW, January 27. /TASS/. The radiation, chemical and biological protection troops of the 41st all-arms army of Russia’s Central Military District stationed in the Altai Region fired the latest TOS-1A Solntsepyok (Scorching Sun) heavy flamethrower systems to eliminate a notional enemy’s force during drills, the District’s press office reported on Monday.
"Under the drills’ scenario, the personnel of a radiation, chemical and biological protection large unit was assigned a combat training task to eliminate a notional enemy at a distance of 50 km. The command made a decision to employ Solntsepyok heavy flamethrower systems and the tactic of sudden destruction by the firepower," the press office said in a statement.
The TOS-1A teams advanced to the designated area, assumed positions and opened fire, the statement says.
"After the combat training assignment was accomplished, the troops provided for the military hardware’s departure by putting up aerosol smokescreens with the help of TDA-3 systems," according to the statement.
The drills involved more than 500 troops and 20 items of military and special hardware.
The TOS-1A ‘Solntsepyok’ is a flamethrower system based on the T-72 tank’s chassis. The flamethrower fires 220mm rockets with the thermobaric warhead. The Solntsepyok is designated to set ablaze and destroy buildings and structures and the enemy’s manpower.


tass--2020-01-28--S7’s Embraer made emergency landing in Novosibirsk airport because of technical fault

NOVOSIBIRSK , January 28 .
/TASS/ .
The Embraer 170 passenger jet of S7 airline made an emergency landing in @ @ @ @ @ decision of the crew , press service of the Tolmachevo ( Novosibirsk ) Airport told @ @ @ @ @ The landing by the crew decision was at 17:42 pm ( 13:42 pm Moscow time @ @ @ @ @ said .
The crew of the S7 air carrier ’ s passenger jet en route @ @ @ @ @ a decision to return back to the departure airport due to actuated alarm signalling the @ @ @ @ @ .
Seventy seven passengers and two crewmembers were on board , West Siberian Office of @ @ @ @ @ The prosecutor ’ s office is checking the fact .
The Embraer 170 airplane is @ @ @ @ @ airport because the flaps were not up .

NOVOSIBIRSK, January 28. /TASS/. The Embraer 170 passenger jet of S7 airline made an emergency landing in the Novosibirsk airport by the decision of the crew, press service of the Tolmachevo (Novosibirsk) Airport told TASS on Tuesday.
"The landing by the crew decision was at 17:42 pm (13:42 pm Moscow time)," the spokesperson said.
The crew of the S7 air carrier’s passenger jet en route from Novosibirsk to Yekaterinburg made a decision to return back to the departure airport due to actuated alarm signalling the airplane’s technical fault. Seventy seven passengers and two crewmembers were on board, West Siberian Office of Transport Prosecutor told TASS. The prosecutor’s office is checking the fact.
The Embraer 170 airplane is returning back to the departure airport because the flaps were not up.


tass--2020-01-28--Kremlin has no comment on Trump's ‘deal of the century’, unaware of its contents

MOSCOW , January 28 .
/TASS/ .
Moscow can not comment on the so-called `` deal of the century '' @ @ @ @ @ on regulating the Palestine-Israel conflict , as it is unaware of the document ’ s @ @ @ @ @ Peskov told reporters on Tuesday .
`` We can not say anything until we become @ @ @ @ @ '' he said , answering a corresponding question .
On Monday , US President Donald @ @ @ @ @ House would publish a peace plan for Israel and Palestine on midday local time ( @ @ @ @ @ Trump noted that Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu had expressed support for the US initiative , @ @ @ @ @ to Washington , would support the plan in the future .
The US leader added @ @ @ @ @ the deal .

MOSCOW, January 28. /TASS/. Moscow cannot comment on the so-called "deal of the century", Washington’s plan on regulating the Palestine-Israel conflict, as it is unaware of the document’s contents, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Tuesday.
"We cannot say anything until we become acquainted with its contents," he said, answering a corresponding question.
On Monday, US President Donald Trump informed that the White House would publish a peace plan for Israel and Palestine on midday local time (20:00 Moscow time). Trump noted that Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu had expressed support for the US initiative, while the Palestinians, according to Washington, would support the plan in the future. The US leader added that many Arab states support the deal.


tass--2020-01-28--Lavrov: Russia backs Syrian military’s quashing of Idlib terrorist provocations

MOSCOW , January 28 .
/TASS/ .
Russia supports the actions by the Syrian army to eliminate terrorist provocations in the Idlib zone , Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Tuesday .
`` A ceasefire brokered by Russia and Turkey was declared in early January .
Since then , the radicals entrenched in Idlib violated it dozens of times , attacking both civilian objects and Syrian army positions .
Attempts to attack Russia ’ s Hmeymim airbase with drones also won ’ t stop , '' Lavrov said .
`` Naturally , these sorts of armed provocations , which took @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Syrian servicemen and civilians in this month alone , can not be left without a response .
We support the actions of the Syrian Army to quash the sources of these provocations in the Idlib zone , '' the top diplomat concluded .
Lavrov noted that the situation in Idlib escalates because of regular ceasefire violations by the militants `` under , probably , slightly less than total control of the Nusra Front and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham organization , which the Nusra Front turned into and whose cover it uses .
`` .

MOSCOW, January 28. /TASS/. Russia supports the actions by the Syrian army to eliminate terrorist provocations in the Idlib zone, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Tuesday.
"A ceasefire brokered by Russia and Turkey was declared in early January. Since then, the radicals entrenched in Idlib violated it dozens of times, attacking both civilian objects and Syrian army positions. Attempts to attack Russia’s Hmeymim airbase with drones also won’t stop," Lavrov said.
"Naturally, these sorts of armed provocations, which took dozens of lives and injured hundreds of Syrian servicemen and civilians in this month alone, cannot be left without a response. We support the actions of the Syrian Army to quash the sources of these provocations in the Idlib zone," the top diplomat concluded.
Lavrov noted that the situation in Idlib escalates because of regular ceasefire violations by the militants "under, probably, slightly less than total control of the Nusra Front and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham organization, which the Nusra Front turned into and whose cover it uses.".


tass--2020-01-28--Venice Commission to probe Russia’s constitutional amendment — senior Russian politician

STRASBOURG , January 28 .
/TASS/ .
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe ( PACE ) Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights has made a decision to refer to the Council of Europe ’ s Venice Commission the Russian constitutional amendment that is being drafted by Russia ’ s parliament particularly stipulating that Russia can not enforce decisions of international organizations if they run counter to the constitution , said State Duma ( the lower house of parliament ) Deputy Speaker Pyotr Tolstoy who heads the Russian delegation to PACE on Tuesday after a meeting of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the decision made .
`` Now it is decided to refer the proposed draft constitutional amendment to the Venice Commission and request their opinion on compliance of the provision that is only being discussed now with international law .
Let ’ s wait what lawyers say regarding the provision that is yet to be adopted and whether they will consider it , '' the parliamentarian commented .
`` We think that it is unacceptable , '' he pointed out .
`` Firstly , it is interference in Russia ’ s domestic affairs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to study provisions of a law that is yet to be passed , '' Tolstoy added .
`` How are they going to do this ?
And what if we introduce a different amendment when working on the legislation ? ''
he asked , recalling that such a possibility to do so is there between the first and the second readings .
The head of the Russian delegation lamented that Russia is systematically accused of not enforcing decisions of the European Convention on Human Rights ( ECHR ) .
`` I would like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decisions are enforced .
Russia is just a large country , there are many lawsuits and complaints .
Therefore , statistically it seems worrying for our European colleagues , '' he explained .
`` On top of that , this worrying is amplified by efforts of the Baltic Plus group [ formed in PACE ] and Ukraine accusing Russia of debating constitutional amendments that are allegedly rendering enforcement of ECHR decisions impossible , '' he claimed .
`` It is not true .
Russian citizens ’ legal protection will not change with these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sovereignty by not implementing decisions that can contradict our main law , '' Tolstoy emphasized .
He recalled that such a provision exists in the United Kingdom .
`` However , our colleagues are much less worried by that than the situation in Russia , '' he concluded .

STRASBOURG, January 28. /TASS/. The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights has made a decision to refer to the Council of Europe’s Venice Commission the Russian constitutional amendment that is being drafted by Russia’s parliament particularly stipulating that Russia cannot enforce decisions of international organizations if they run counter to the constitution, said State Duma (the lower house of parliament) Deputy Speaker Pyotr Tolstoy who heads the Russian delegation to PACE on Tuesday after a meeting of the committee, underlining that he categorically disagrees with the decision made.
"Now it is decided to refer the proposed draft constitutional amendment to the Venice Commission and request their opinion on compliance of the provision that is only being discussed now with international law. Let’s wait what lawyers say regarding the provision that is yet to be adopted and whether they will consider it," the parliamentarian commented.
"We think that it is unacceptable," he pointed out. "Firstly, it is interference in Russia’s domestic affairs. Secondly, it is just ridiculous to study provisions of a law that is yet to be passed," Tolstoy added. "How are they going to do this? And what if we introduce a different amendment when working on the legislation?" he asked, recalling that such a possibility to do so is there between the first and the second readings.
The head of the Russian delegation lamented that Russia is systematically accused of not enforcing decisions of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). "I would like to say that 99% of the decisions are enforced. Russia is just a large country, there are many lawsuits and complaints. Therefore, statistically it seems worrying for our European colleagues," he explained. "On top of that, this worrying is amplified by efforts of the Baltic Plus group [formed in PACE] and Ukraine accusing Russia of debating constitutional amendments that are allegedly rendering enforcement of ECHR decisions impossible," he claimed.
"It is not true. Russian citizens’ legal protection will not change with these amendments adopted. Russia is bolstering its sovereignty by not implementing decisions that can contradict our main law," Tolstoy emphasized. He recalled that such a provision exists in the United Kingdom. "However, our colleagues are much less worried by that than the situation in Russia," he concluded.
Russian constitutional amendment


tass--2020-01-28--EU blacklists seven more Russians for election in Crimea

`` Yes , I can confirm that the EU Council approved this decision , '' he said .
BRUSSELS , January 28 .
/TASS/ .
The European Union has decided to expand its blacklists on Ukraine by seven more Russian nationals deemed responsible for holding an election in Crimea in September 2019 , a representative of the European Union Council told TASS on Tuesday .
According to the EU representative , the council will soon officially announce the decision after which it will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union and enter into force .
According to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was greenlighted after Cyprus lifted its veto on this issue on Monday .
Cyprus was blocking this slight toughening of sanctions for the past two months trying to persuade other EU members to speed up adoption of restrictions against Turkish legal entities and natural persons responsible for geological exploration works in contested waters around the island .
The EU approved additional sanctions against Russia right before holding an EU-Ukraine Association Council meeting in Brussels on Tuesday .
Ukrainian Prime Minister Alexei Goncharuk is scheduled to attend the meeting .
In 2014 , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the Ukraine events and Crimea ’ s reunification and continues to expand and prolong them .
The visa-free regime and new basic agreement on cooperation talks were suspended , Russian officials were prohibited from entering EU countries , their assets were frozen , and restrictive trade , financial and military measures were adopted .
In response , Moscow banned agricultural imports from the EU .

"Yes, I can confirm that the EU Council approved this decision," he said.
BRUSSELS, January 28. /TASS/. The European Union has decided to expand its blacklists on Ukraine by seven more Russian nationals deemed responsible for holding an election in Crimea in September 2019, a representative of the European Union Council told TASS on Tuesday.
According to the EU representative, the council will soon officially announce the decision after which it will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union and enter into force.
According to information available to TASS, the decision was greenlighted after Cyprus lifted its veto on this issue on Monday. Cyprus was blocking this slight toughening of sanctions for the past two months trying to persuade other EU members to speed up adoption of restrictions against Turkish legal entities and natural persons responsible for geological exploration works in contested waters around the island.
The EU approved additional sanctions against Russia right before holding an EU-Ukraine Association Council meeting in Brussels on Tuesday. Ukrainian Prime Minister Alexei Goncharuk is scheduled to attend the meeting.
In 2014, the European Union slapped sanctions against Russia relating to the Ukraine events and Crimea’s reunification and continues to expand and prolong them. The visa-free regime and new basic agreement on cooperation talks were suspended, Russian officials were prohibited from entering EU countries, their assets were frozen, and restrictive trade, financial and military measures were adopted. In response, Moscow banned agricultural imports from the EU.


tass--2020-01-28--Enigma Astralis fishing vessel sank in the Sea of Okhotsk, federal service reports

`` It is determined that the vessel found at the bottom of the Sea of Okhotsk is in fact the @ @ @ @ @ agency source told TASS .
MOSCOW , January 28 .
/TASS/ .
The Enigma Astralis @ @ @ @ @ fire on January 21 , sank in the Sea of Okhostsk , says the Federal @ @ @ @ @ Transport .
On January 25 , radar contact with the ship was lost .
On @ @ @ @ @ search mission , the Imatra trawler discovered a large object at the bottom of the @ @ @ @ @ the Enigma .
The Enigma caught fire on January 21 while fishing in the Sea @ @ @ @ @ off Magadan .
All crewmembers were evacuated on the day of the incident , while @ @ @ @ @ more days .
The rescue team had trouble boarding the vessel first due to an @ @ @ @ @ because of the storm .
On January 26 , after the storm settled down , @ @ @ @ @ radars .
The rescue operation involving 11 nearby vessels commenced .

"It is determined that the vessel found at the bottom of the Sea of Okhotsk is in fact the Enigma Astralis," the agency source told TASS.
MOSCOW, January 28. /TASS/. The Enigma Astralis fishing vessel, which caught fire on January 21, sank in the Sea of Okhostsk, says the Federal Agency for Maritime and River Transport.
On January 25, radar contact with the ship was lost. On January 28, during the search mission, the Imatra trawler discovered a large object at the bottom of the sea, preliminarily identified as the Enigma.
The Enigma caught fire on January 21 while fishing in the Sea of Okhotsk some 130 km off Magadan. All crewmembers were evacuated on the day of the incident, while the fire continued for three more days. The rescue team had trouble boarding the vessel first due to an explosion hazard, and later because of the storm. On January 26, after the storm settled down, the Enigma disappeared from the radars. The rescue operation involving 11 nearby vessels commenced.


tass--2020-01-28--Kremlin: Moscow-Kiev relations far from improving despite positive signs between leaders

MOSCOW , January 28 .
/TASS/ .
Relations between Moscow and Kiev are far from improving despite some positive signs between the two countries ’ leaders , Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters .
`` I would n't talk about relations between the two countries at the moment , '' he said when asked if the Ukrainian president ’ s statement about the Soviet Union ’ s alleged role in starting World War II would affect bilateral relations .
`` As you know , despite a small positive trend between the two heads of state , relations are far from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Peskov pointed out .
The Kremlin considers remarks by Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky that the USSR was involved in unleashing WWII erroneous and insulting to the memories of millions of people , including Ukrainians .
`` We strongly disagree with that statement .
In that statement , the Ukrainian president expressed solidarity with the viewpoint of the Polish leadership , which is extremely erroneous , in our view , the viewpoint , which is insulting for tens of millions of Russians and CIS citizens whose parents , grandfathers , relatives lost their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Nazism , '' Peskov said .
He was confident that Zelensky ’ s stance was `` hardly congruous with the faith and convictions of millions of Ukrainians who likewise fought against the Nazis . ''
That ’ s why we consider that statement unacceptable .
We consider it erroneous and insulting from the viewpoint of the memories of our grandfathers , '' the Kremlin spokesman stressed .

MOSCOW, January 28. /TASS/. Relations between Moscow and Kiev are far from improving despite some positive signs between the two countries’ leaders, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
"I wouldn't talk about relations between the two countries at the moment," he said when asked if the Ukrainian president’s statement about the Soviet Union’s alleged role in starting World War II would affect bilateral relations. "As you know, despite a small positive trend between the two heads of state, relations are far from finding a sustainable path for improvement," Peskov pointed out.
The Kremlin considers remarks by Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky that the USSR was involved in unleashing WWII erroneous and insulting to the memories of millions of people, including Ukrainians.
"We strongly disagree with that statement. In that statement, the Ukrainian president expressed solidarity with the viewpoint of the Polish leadership, which is extremely erroneous, in our view, the viewpoint, which is insulting for tens of millions of Russians and CIS citizens whose parents, grandfathers, relatives lost their lives liberating Europe, including Poland, from Nazism," Peskov said.
He was confident that Zelensky’s stance was "hardly congruous with the faith and convictions of millions of Ukrainians who likewise fought against the Nazis." That’s why we consider that statement unacceptable. We consider it erroneous and insulting from the viewpoint of the memories of our grandfathers," the Kremlin spokesman stressed.
During his visit to Poland, Zelensky accused the Soviet Union of unleashing World War Two on a par with Nazi Germany. According to the Ukrainian president, Poland and the Polish people were the first to feel "the collusion of the totalitarian regimes," which led to the outbreak of the war.


tass--2020-01-28--EU to blacklist several Russian officials over elections in Crimea, says  source

BRUSSELS , January 28 .
/TASS/ .
European Union countries have agreed to blacklist several Russian officials for conducting elections in Crimea in September 2019 , a diplomatic source in Brussels told TASS on Tuesday .
`` A consensus has been reached to introduce restrictions on several Russian officials over the 2019 elections in Crimea and Sevastopol , '' he said .
According to the source , the final decision on the matter is expected to be made at an EU General Affairs Council meeting later in the day According to information available to TASS , a consensus was reached @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The country earlier sought to block the new sanctions in a bid to secure EU backing for tougher action against Ankara in a row over hydrocarbon drilling .
The European Union will now try to make sure that additional sanctions against Russia are approved ahead of a meeting of the EU-Ukraine Association Council , scheduled for January 28 , which will involve Ukrainian Prime Minister Alexei Goncharuk .
In 2014 , the European Union imposed sanctions on Moscow over the situation in Ukraine and Crimea ’ s reunification with Russia .
Visa waiver @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agreement were suspended .
Some Russian officials were barred from entering EU counties , their assets were frozen .
Besides , trade , financial and military restrictions were also introduced .
In response , Russia banned the import of a number of food products from EU countries .

BRUSSELS, January 28. /TASS/. European Union countries have agreed to blacklist several Russian officials for conducting elections in Crimea in September 2019, a diplomatic source in Brussels told TASS on Tuesday.
"A consensus has been reached to introduce restrictions on several Russian officials over the 2019 elections in Crimea and Sevastopol," he said. According to the source, the final decision on the matter is expected to be made at an EU General Affairs Council meeting later in the day
According to information available to TASS, a consensus was reached after Cyprus had withdrawn its veto. The country earlier sought to block the new sanctions in a bid to secure EU backing for tougher action against Ankara in a row over hydrocarbon drilling.
The European Union will now try to make sure that additional sanctions against Russia are approved ahead of a meeting of the EU-Ukraine Association Council, scheduled for January 28, which will involve Ukrainian Prime Minister Alexei Goncharuk.
In 2014, the European Union imposed sanctions on Moscow over the situation in Ukraine and Crimea’s reunification with Russia. Visa waiver negotiations and talks on a new cooperation agreement were suspended. Some Russian officials were barred from entering EU counties, their assets were frozen. Besides, trade, financial and military restrictions were also introduced. In response, Russia banned the import of a number of food products from EU countries.


tass--2020-01-28--Russia’s Oryol new spacecraft to make crewed flight around Moon in 2029

MOSCOW , January 28 .
/TASS/ .
Russia ’ s Oryol new spacecraft is set to make a crewed flight around the Moon in 2029 , First Deputy Head of the State Space Corporation Roscosmos Yuri Urlichich said in a presentation at the readings on cosmonautics devoted to Soviet Rocket Designer Sergei Korolyov on Tuesday .
As the presentation suggests , the Oryol spacecraft is scheduled to make an uncrewed flight around the Moon in 2028 and fly around the Earth ’ s natural satellite with a crew and practice the spaceship ’ s piloted docking with a lunar take-off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also intends to send an automatic lunar rover in 2029 .
The presentation mentions the Russian lunar program , which consists of several missions : the Luna-Glob ( 2021 ) , the Luna-Resource-1 orbital spacecraft ( 2024 ) , the Luna-Resource-1 lander ( 2025 ) and the Luna-Grunt sample-return mission ( 2028 ) .
According to the presentation , the first testing launch of the Oryol spacecraft ( formerly called Federatsiya ) is planned for 2023 .
The spacecraft is expected to make its first uncrewed flight to the International Space Station in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ orbital outpost in 2025 .

MOSCOW, January 28. /TASS/. Russia’s Oryol new spacecraft is set to make a crewed flight around the Moon in 2029, First Deputy Head of the State Space Corporation Roscosmos Yuri Urlichich said in a presentation at the readings on cosmonautics devoted to Soviet Rocket Designer Sergei Korolyov on Tuesday.
As the presentation suggests, the Oryol spacecraft is scheduled to make an uncrewed flight around the Moon in 2028 and fly around the Earth’s natural satellite with a crew and practice the spaceship’s piloted docking with a lunar take-off and landing module in 2029.
Roscosmos also intends to send an automatic lunar rover in 2029.
The presentation mentions the Russian lunar program, which consists of several missions: the Luna-Glob (2021), the Luna-Resource-1 orbital spacecraft (2024), the Luna-Resource-1 lander (2025) and the Luna-Grunt sample-return mission (2028).
According to the presentation, the first testing launch of the Oryol spacecraft (formerly called Federatsiya) is planned for 2023. The spacecraft is expected to make its first uncrewed flight to the International Space Station in 2024 and its manned travel to the orbital outpost in 2025.


tass--2020-01-28--Press review: Who needs Trump’s ‘deal of the century’ and Russia to fight Iran sanctions

If the UN Security Council begins to discuss the re-imposition of sanctions against Tehran , Moscow will be opposed to that , a high-ranking Russian diplomatic source informed Izvestia .
`` We strongly oppose the re-imposition of UN sanctions and have made it clear to Iran that it can count on our support on this matter , '' he said .
In mid-January , three European signatories to the Iran nuclear deal ( the United Kingdom , Germany and France ) triggered the dispute resolution mechanism stipulated by the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action ( JCPOA ) .
In the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the sanctions being re-imposed on Iran .
A high-ranking European diplomatic source told the paper that the EU countries expect Russia and China to join the mechanism .
However , Moscow was skeptical about the initiative and warned that the Europeans could take advantage of the situation to blame Iran for everything that happened .
Meanwhile , the experts interviewed by Izvestia noted that the mechanism was likely to work until November 2020 , when the US presidential election is set to be held .
`` If the Democrats come to power , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deal .
As far as Donald Trump ’ s re-election is concerned , it is very difficult to make any forecasts , '' Adlan Margoev , an analyst at the Institute of International Studies at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations ( MGIMO University ) , explained .
Russia and China should persuade the Europeans not to bring the matter to the UN , the expert went on to say .
If they fail to do that , the only way to sabotage the process would be by refusing to comply with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would result in long-lasting adverse effects for the Security Council itself , while damaging the prestige of the sanctions mechanism .
That , in turn , would discredit the entire UN , and none of its member-countries wants that , he concluded .
Vedomosti : White House to unveil ‘ deal of the century ’ US President Donald Trump is set to roll out the details of his long-awaited `` deal of the century '' at a joint news conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday , that is , his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ News commentators believe that Trump and Netanyahu hope to look like history-makers in the eyes of the American and Israeli public , and be lauded as the ones who `` brought peace to the Middle East '' , Vedomosti writes .
Now that the situation in the West Bank is relatively calm , only Trump and Netanyahu need the peace plan , the paper quotes Avi Issacharoff , an analyst at the Times of Israel , as saying .
He believes that `` the pro-Israeli deal of the century '' could upset the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ retaliatory measures from the Palestinians .
Washington is demonstrating a one-sided approach , and peace is out of the question here , says Irina Zvyagelskaya , chief researcher at the Russian Academy of Sciences ’ Institute of Oriental Studies .
It is important that [ Benny ] Gantz [ leader of the Kahol Lavan political alliance ] was invited to discuss the deal .
That means that Trump wants to ensure the broadest possible support , if Likud again fails to gain an absolute majority and has to form a coalition , she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long run , that deal will not mean anything good - either for the region , or even for the domestic policy of Israel , to which it will bring neither peace nor stability , '' the paper quotes her as saying .
Nezavisimaya Gazeta : US attracting wider line-up to keep an eye on North Korea The number of countries monitoring Pyongyang 's compliance with international sanctions is expected to increase .
France , Japan and South Korea could join the United States , Australia , New Zealand , the United Kingdom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ North Korea ’ s illegal activities , Nezavisimaya Gazeta writes .
Efforts aimed at tightening control over North Korea ’ s compliance with sanctions stem from the breakdown of negotiations between Washington and Pyongyang .
In late December , Kim refused to comply with a nuclear test moratorium , and in January , the Trump administration expanded sanctions against North Korea .
DPRK propaganda has been focusing more frequently on North Koreans gearing up for troubles caused by the long-term standoff with the United States .
Relations between the United States and North @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not hopeless , Alexander Vorontsov , Head of the Korean and Mongolian Studies Department at the Russian Academy of Sciences ’ Institute of Oriental Studies , told the paper .
`` Both parties are currently trying to secure concessions for themselves during potential negotiations .
The fact that [ US President Donald ] Trump and Kim Jong-un have been exchanging letters and demonstrate mutual respect on a personal level is encouraging .
North Korea ’ s firm stance is that the United States should respond to concessions with concessions .
However , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ obstacle to the dialogue between both countries , '' the expert pointed out .
Kommersant : Lukoil seeks to expand its resource base in Caspian Sea Lukoil CEO Vagit Alekperov has asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to provide the company with three additional unexplored subsoil areas in the Caspian Sea shelf zone , Kommersant writes .
In his letter to the Russian leader , Alekperov stressed that Lukoil ’ s subsidiary ( Lukoil-Nizhnevolzhskneft ) had a shortage of new exploration projects .
The company is currently developing two deposits in the Russian sector @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Korchagin oil fields ) , which produce about seven mln tonnes of oil per year .
Lukoil has been interested in offshore projects for a long time .
However , under the law , the company has no access to such areas .
Alekperov earlier noted that all promising Arctic shelf sections had been acquired by Rosneft and Gazprom .
In addition to the Caspian shelf zone , the company also is developing deposits in the Baltic Sea .
Lukoil knows the Caspian Sea shelf area quite well and has a wealth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Dmitry Marinchenko .
The renewal of its resource base is an essential long-term issue for the company , he stressed .
According to Raiffeisenbank ’ s Andrei Polishchuk , unallocated reserves are few in number in Russia , so Lukoil is trying to have dibs on some promising projects .
Moreover , in Russia , the company ’ s ability to acquire new deposits is limited , the expert added .
Vedomosti : Russia may lose up to 80 % of Chinese tourists due to coronavirus outbreak The now-infamous novel coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Russia ’ s tourism industry , given that Chinese travelers account for 18 % of the volume coming to Russia , Vedomosti writes citing data provided by the Russian Union of Travel Industry .
China earlier announced additional measures to combat the deadly virus , including a ban on package tours abroad .
If the coronavirus ’ ability to spread gets stronger , Russia will have to change its strategy in order to attract tourists from new markets and fill up hotels and other tourist infrastructure , the paper quotes Sergei Shpilko @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Travel Industry , as saying .
January to March is the peak season for Chinese travelers visiting Russia , says Alexander Agamov , Executive Director of the World Without Borders tourism association , which fosters Russian-Chinese tourism .
About 130,000-150,000 Chinese tourists came to Russia in the first quarter of 2019 , he said , adding that the World Without Borders association expected a slight increase in the number of Chinese tourists in the first quarter of 2020 .
`` Of these , 70-80 % may not come now , '' he pointed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tourists will be hit the hardest , according to Alexander Kurnosov , who heads the Academservice tourist agency .
However , the market will compensate for that downturn .
A drop in demand for hotels and transport will bring down prices , and that will attract both guests from other countries and Russians , he explained .
TASS is not responsible for the material quoted in these press reviews

Izvestia: Russia opposes renewed UN sanctions against Iran If the UN Security Council begins to discuss the re-imposition of sanctions against Tehran, Moscow will be opposed to that, a high-ranking Russian diplomatic source informed Izvestia. "We strongly oppose the re-imposition of UN sanctions and have made it clear to Iran that it can count on our support on this matter," he said. In mid-January, three European signatories to the Iran nuclear deal (the United Kingdom, Germany and France) triggered the dispute resolution mechanism stipulated by the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). In the worst-case scenario, it can result in the sanctions being re-imposed on Iran. A high-ranking European diplomatic source told the paper that the EU countries expect Russia and China to join the mechanism. However, Moscow was skeptical about the initiative and warned that the Europeans could take advantage of the situation to blame Iran for everything that happened.
Meanwhile, the experts interviewed by Izvestia noted that the mechanism was likely to work until November 2020, when the US presidential election is set to be held. "If the Democrats come to power, there will be chances of salvaging the deal. As far as Donald Trump’s re-election is concerned, it is very difficult to make any forecasts," Adlan Margoev, an analyst at the Institute of International Studies at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO University), explained. Russia and China should persuade the Europeans not to bring the matter to the UN, the expert went on to say. If they fail to do that, the only way to sabotage the process would be by refusing to comply with the restrictive measures. However, that would result in long-lasting adverse effects for the Security Council itself, while damaging the prestige of the sanctions mechanism. That, in turn, would discredit the entire UN, and none of its member-countries wants that, he concluded. Vedomosti: White House to unveil ‘deal of the century’ US President Donald Trump is set to roll out the details of his long-awaited "deal of the century" at a joint news conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday, that is, his plan to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. News commentators believe that Trump and Netanyahu hope to look like history-makers in the eyes of the American and Israeli public, and be lauded as the ones who "brought peace to the Middle East", Vedomosti writes. Now that the situation in the West Bank is relatively calm, only Trump and Netanyahu need the peace plan, the paper quotes Avi Issacharoff, an analyst at the Times of Israel, as saying. He believes that "the pro-Israeli deal of the century" could upset the fragile balance in the region and trigger retaliatory measures from the Palestinians. Washington is demonstrating a one-sided approach, and peace is out of the question here, says Irina Zvyagelskaya, chief researcher at the Russian Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Oriental Studies. It is important that [Benny] Gantz [leader of the Kahol Lavan political alliance] was invited to discuss the deal. That means that Trump wants to ensure the broadest possible support, if Likud again fails to gain an absolute majority and has to form a coalition, she stressed. "However, in the long run, that deal will not mean anything good - either for the region, or even for the domestic policy of Israel, to which it will bring neither peace nor stability," the paper quotes her as saying. Nezavisimaya Gazeta: US attracting wider line-up to keep an eye on North Korea The number of countries monitoring Pyongyang's compliance with international sanctions is expected to increase. France, Japan and South Korea could join the United States, Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Canada, whose intelligence services track North Korea’s illegal activities, Nezavisimaya Gazeta writes.
Efforts aimed at tightening control over North Korea’s compliance with sanctions stem from the breakdown of negotiations between Washington and Pyongyang. In late December, Kim refused to comply with a nuclear test moratorium, and in January, the Trump administration expanded sanctions against North Korea. DPRK propaganda has been focusing more frequently on North Koreans gearing up for troubles caused by the long-term standoff with the United States. Relations between the United States and North Korea can be described as complex but not hopeless, Alexander Vorontsov, Head of the Korean and Mongolian Studies Department at the Russian Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Oriental Studies, told the paper. "Both parties are currently trying to secure concessions for themselves during potential negotiations. The fact that [US President Donald] Trump and Kim Jong-un have been exchanging letters and demonstrate mutual respect on a personal level is encouraging. North Korea’s firm stance is that the United States should respond to concessions with concessions. However, the Americans disagree. This is the chief obstacle to the dialogue between both countries," the expert pointed out. Kommersant: Lukoil seeks to expand its resource base in Caspian Sea Lukoil CEO Vagit Alekperov has asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to provide the company with three additional unexplored subsoil areas in the Caspian Sea shelf zone, Kommersant writes. In his letter to the Russian leader, Alekperov stressed that Lukoil’s subsidiary (Lukoil-Nizhnevolzhskneft) had a shortage of new exploration projects. The company is currently developing two deposits in the Russian sector of the Caspian Sea (the Filanovsky and Korchagin oil fields), which produce about seven mln tonnes of oil per year.
Read also Azerbaijan’s Socar signs memorandum with Lukoil on three new Caspian projects
Lukoil has been interested in offshore projects for a long time. However, under the law, the company has no access to such areas. Alekperov earlier noted that all promising Arctic shelf sections had been acquired by Rosneft and Gazprom. In addition to the Caspian shelf zone, the company also is developing deposits in the Baltic Sea. Lukoil knows the Caspian Sea shelf area quite well and has a wealth of successful experience there, says Fitch’s Dmitry Marinchenko. The renewal of its resource base is an essential long-term issue for the company, he stressed. According to Raiffeisenbank’s Andrei Polishchuk, unallocated reserves are few in number in Russia, so Lukoil is trying to have dibs on some promising projects. Moreover, in Russia, the company’s ability to acquire new deposits is limited, the expert added. Vedomosti: Russia may lose up to 80% of Chinese tourists due to coronavirus outbreak The now-infamous novel coronavirus outbreak in China may have serious implications on Russia’s tourism industry, given that Chinese travelers account for 18% of the volume coming to Russia, Vedomosti writes citing data provided by the Russian Union of Travel Industry. China earlier announced additional measures to combat the deadly virus, including a ban on package tours abroad.
Read also Countries prepare to evacuate citizens from Wuhan due to spread of coronavirus


tass--2020-01-28--Turkey’s Erdogan accuses UAE of financing mercenaries in Libya

ANKARA , January 28 .
/TASS/ .
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan believes that the United Arab Emirates ( UAE ) is providing financial support for mercenaries who are allegedly aiding Commander of the Libyan National Army ( LNA ) , Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar in Libya , he told reporters aboard the presidential aircraft on his way from Algeria to The Gambia , NTV released excerpts from the interview on Tuesday .
`` During German Chancellor Angela Merkel ’ s visit to Turkey , we thoroughly discussed this topic ( situation in Libya - TASS ) , '' Erdogan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that ] Haftar is a liar and you enable pandering to this liar .
Egypt is the key [ Haftar ’ s ] supporter as well as authorities in Abu Dhabi , '' he claimed .
According to the Turkish leader , the United Arab Emirates is not only providing financial assistance but also `` supplying arms and armaments . ''
Currently , Libya has two supreme executive authorities , namely Tripoli ’ s Government of National Accord recognized by the international community and headed by Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj and the interim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which operates in the country ’ s east along with the elected parliament and is supported by the Libyan National Army ( LNA ) led by Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar .
On April 4 , Haftar announced the launch of an offensive in Tripoli to eliminate the terrorist groups that got hold there .
In turn , Sarraj ordered all military units loyal to him to gear up to defend the capital , while the armed units in the capital launched operation dubbed ‘ Volcano of Rage ’ to fight back .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of people and destruction of vital infrastructure facilities , while thousands of Libyans were forced to flee their homes .
On December 12 , Haftar announced that his troops are beginning `` the decisive battle for the capital '' to `` free it from the terrorists . ''
The GNA mobilized all troops loyal to it to defend Tripoli , officially appealing to Turkey for help based on a memorandum of military cooperation signed in late November .
The international high-level conference on Libya took place on January 19 in the German capital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states and governments attending the event including Russian President Vladimir Putin .
The talks were also visited by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres , Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan , French President Emmanuel Macron , British Prime Minister Boris Johnson , US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo , as well as representatives of Algeria , Egypt , the United Arab Emirates and China .
Moreover , Berlin also welcomed Prime Minister of the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord ( GNA ) , Fayez Sarraj , and Libyan National Army ( LNA ) Commander @ @ @ @ @ @ @ final communique includes a call to ceasefire , refrain from intervening into Libya ’ s affairs , while it also proposes creation of a single government and launch of reforms to restore statehood that was demolished by NATO almost ten years ago .

ANKARA, January 28. /TASS/. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan believes that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is providing financial support for mercenaries who are allegedly aiding Commander of the Libyan National Army (LNA), Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar in Libya, he told reporters aboard the presidential aircraft on his way from Algeria to The Gambia, NTV released excerpts from the interview on Tuesday.
"During German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s visit to Turkey, we thoroughly discussed this topic (situation in Libya - TASS)," Erdogan said. "[We told them that] Haftar is a liar and you enable pandering to this liar. Egypt is the key [Haftar’s] supporter as well as authorities in Abu Dhabi," he claimed.
According to the Turkish leader, the United Arab Emirates is not only providing financial assistance but also "supplying arms and armaments."
Currently, Libya has two supreme executive authorities, namely Tripoli’s Government of National Accord recognized by the international community and headed by Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj and the interim government headed by Prime Minister Abdullah al-Thani, which operates in the country’s east along with the elected parliament and is supported by the Libyan National Army (LNA) led by Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar. On April 4, Haftar announced the launch of an offensive in Tripoli to eliminate the terrorist groups that got hold there. In turn, Sarraj ordered all military units loyal to him to gear up to defend the capital, while the armed units in the capital launched operation dubbed ‘Volcano of Rage’ to fight back. The conflict led to death of hundreds of people and destruction of vital infrastructure facilities, while thousands of Libyans were forced to flee their homes. On December 12, Haftar announced that his troops are beginning "the decisive battle for the capital" to "free it from the terrorists." The GNA mobilized all troops loyal to it to defend Tripoli, officially appealing to Turkey for help based on a memorandum of military cooperation signed in late November.
The international high-level conference on Libya took place on January 19 in the German capital, with at least ten heads of states and governments attending the event including Russian President Vladimir Putin. The talks were also visited by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, as well as representatives of Algeria, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and China. Moreover, Berlin also welcomed Prime Minister of the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA), Fayez Sarraj, and Libyan National Army (LNA) Commander Khalifa Haftar. The conference’s final communique includes a call to ceasefire, refrain from intervening into Libya’s affairs, while it also proposes creation of a single government and launch of reforms to restore statehood that was demolished by NATO almost ten years ago.


tass--2020-01-28--Hotels, tourist sites in Moscow under special control amid coronavirus outbreak

MOSCOW , January 28 .
/TASS/ .
Hotels and tourist sites in Moscow have been taken under special control due @ @ @ @ @ China , Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin wrote on his blog on Tuesday .
`` We @ @ @ @ @ sites under special control .
If there are alarming signals , medical teams will be @ @ @ @ @ everyone , '' he wrote .
According to the Russian consumer watchdog , no coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ the country yet .

MOSCOW, January 28. /TASS/. Hotels and tourist sites in Moscow have been taken under special control due to the coronavirus outbreak in China, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin wrote on his blog on Tuesday.
"We are taking hotels and tourist sites under special control. If there are alarming signals, medical teams will be immediately dispatched there to check everyone," he wrote.
According to the Russian consumer watchdog, no coronavirus cases have been confirmed in the country yet.


tass--2020-01-28--Gazprom plans to keep gas exports to Europe at level of previous years

VIENNA , January 28 .
/TASS/ .
Russian gas giant Gazprom plans to maintain gas exports to non-CIS countries at the level of previous years , head of Gazprom Export , Elena Burmistrova said speaking at the European Gas Conference .
`` In 2019 , Gazprom ’ s export to non-CIS countries amounted to 199.3 bln cubic meters of gas , taking into account 382 mln cubic meters delivered to our new destination - to China ... One thing is clear - Gazprom was and remains the largest exporter of natural gas in Europe and the world .
In the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to remain at the level that has been achieved over the past years with adjustments that are related to weather conditions , '' Burmistrova said .
According to her , despite the growth of LNG supplies to Europe , Gazprom 's gas exports only slightly decreased from the record level of 2018 .
`` Some people think that liquefied gas is more competitive than pipeline gas .
You can often hear that LNG is pushing Russian pipeline gas out of the European market , '' Burmistrova said .
She noted that the main @ @ @ @ @ @ @ limited ability to quickly meet demand during peak periods of consumption . ''
`` Therefore , for Europe , we continue to rely on pipeline gas , which will provide stability and reliability along with contract flexibility .
In this region , pipeline deliveries are simply a more profitable solution , '' she concluded .

VIENNA, January 28. /TASS/. Russian gas giant Gazprom plans to maintain gas exports to non-CIS countries at the level of previous years, head of Gazprom Export, Elena Burmistrova said speaking at the European Gas Conference.
"In 2019, Gazprom’s export to non-CIS countries amounted to 199.3 bln cubic meters of gas, taking into account 382 mln cubic meters delivered to our new destination - to China ... One thing is clear - Gazprom was and remains the largest exporter of natural gas in Europe and the world. In the mid-term, we expect export to Europe to remain at the level that has been achieved over the past years with adjustments that are related to weather conditions," Burmistrova said.
According to her, despite the growth of LNG supplies to Europe, Gazprom's gas exports only slightly decreased from the record level of 2018.
"Some people think that liquefied gas is more competitive than pipeline gas. You can often hear that LNG is pushing Russian pipeline gas out of the European market," Burmistrova said.
She noted that the main shortcoming of LNG, is its "limited ability to quickly meet demand during peak periods of consumption."
"Therefore, for Europe, we continue to rely on pipeline gas, which will provide stability and reliability along with contract flexibility. In this region, pipeline deliveries are simply a more profitable solution," she concluded.


tass--2020-01-28--Chinese coronavirus dangerous at 2 meter distance, expert says

MOSCOW , January 28 .
/TASS/ .
The 2019-nCoV coronavirus may be contagious at a two-meter distance , says National @ @ @ @ @ of Beijing Ditan Hospital .
`` Everyone must wear protective masks and reduce the number @ @ @ @ @ low as possible .
By ‘ close , ’ we currently mean a distance of @ @ @ @ @ the infection may happen at this distance , '' says Chinese media quotes the expert @ @ @ @ @ also noted the virus might be transmitted by contact , if it gets in human @ @ @ @ @ .

MOSCOW, January 28. /TASS/. The 2019-nCoV coronavirus may be contagious at a two-meter distance, says National Health Commission expert Li Xingwang of Beijing Ditan Hospital.
"Everyone must wear protective masks and reduce the number of close contacts to as low as possible. By ‘close,’ we currently mean a distance of one to two meters - the infection may happen at this distance," says Chinese media quotes the expert as saying.
The expert also noted the virus might be transmitted by contact, if it gets in human eyes or on mucous membranes.


tass--2020-01-28--Russian regions bordering China introduce additional safety measures against coronavirus

The majority of border crossings in the Far East suspended their work since January 24 due to Chinese New Year , set to reopen on January 30 ; however , on agreement with the Chinese government , the break will last until February 1 .
Officials have established a temporary corridor for 194 Russian tourists , 17 Chinese nationals with a Russian residence permit , and two Ethiopian citizens , who returned from China ’ s Heihe to the Russian city of Blagoveshchensk .
In Russia ’ s Primorsky Region , only railway border crossings are functioning currently , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In order to stabilize the situation , Yakutia and Nord Star companies cancelled flights to the Chinese city of Sanya , the companies ’ representatives informed .
The demand for protective masks in border regions has risen , local pharmacy chains informed TASS .
`` Since the start of last week , there has been a high demand for flu medicine and other means of protection against acute respiratory viral infection .
Until January 24 , we detected only a slight increase in sales , mostly of medicine , however , on Saturday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in bulk along with respirator masks .
We are expanding our stock , buying additional products , we are staying on top of it , '' a representative of Monastyryov , a local pharmacy chain in the Primorsky Region , told TASS .
On December 31 , 2019 , Chinese authorities informed the World Health Organization ( WHO ) about an outbreak of an unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan - a large trade and industrial center in central China populated by 11 million people .
On January 7 , Chinese experts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In the past 24 hours , there has been a sharp rise in the number of people infected with the new type of coronavirus originating from China ’ s Wuhan .
According to recent data , 4,547 people have been infected with the virus , with 106 people dead .
The virus continues to spread in China and other states , including Australia , Canada , Vietnam , Germany , Cambodia , Malaysia , Nepal , the Republic of Korea , Singapore , the USA , Thailand , France , Sri Lanka @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pneumonia outbreak in China as a national emergency but stopped short of declaring an international one .
Russian companies are cancelling flights to the most popular tourist destinations in China , including Hainan , while some carriers , such as Aeroflot and S7 , are offering free refunds for tickets to China scheduled until late February .
Russian tour operators are preparing to evacuate about 6-7,000 Russian tourists from China .

The majority of border crossings in the Far East suspended their work since January 24 due to Chinese New Year, set to reopen on January 30; however, on agreement with the Chinese government, the break will last until February 1. Officials have established a temporary corridor for 194 Russian tourists, 17 Chinese nationals with a Russian residence permit, and two Ethiopian citizens, who returned from China’s Heihe to the Russian city of Blagoveshchensk.
In Russia’s Primorsky Region, only railway border crossings are functioning currently, the Ussuriysk customs press service told TASS. In order to stabilize the situation, Yakutia and Nord Star companies cancelled flights to the Chinese city of Sanya, the companies’ representatives informed.
The demand for protective masks in border regions has risen, local pharmacy chains informed TASS. "Since the start of last week, there has been a high demand for flu medicine and other means of protection against acute respiratory viral infection. Until January 24, we detected only a slight increase in sales, mostly of medicine, however, on Saturday and Sunday, people began buying it in bulk along with respirator masks. We are expanding our stock, buying additional products, we are staying on top of it," a representative of Monastyryov, a local pharmacy chain in the Primorsky Region, told TASS.
About the virus
On December 31, 2019, Chinese authorities informed the World Health Organization (WHO) about an outbreak of an unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan - a large trade and industrial center in central China populated by 11 million people. On January 7, Chinese experts identified the infecting agent: coronavirus 2019-nCoV.
In the past 24 hours, there has been a sharp rise in the number of people infected with the new type of coronavirus originating from China’s Wuhan. According to recent data, 4,547 people have been infected with the virus, with 106 people dead.
The virus continues to spread in China and other states, including Australia, Canada, Vietnam, Germany, Cambodia, Malaysia, Nepal, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, the USA, Thailand, France, Sri Lanka and Japan. The WHO recognized the pneumonia outbreak in China as a national emergency but stopped short of declaring an international one.
Russian companies are cancelling flights to the most popular tourist destinations in China, including Hainan, while some carriers, such as Aeroflot and S7, are offering free refunds for tickets to China scheduled until late February. Russian tour operators are preparing to evacuate about 6-7,000 Russian tourists from China.


tass--2020-01-28--Coronavirus outbreak unlikely to affect tourism industry, expert says

YEKATERINBURG , January 28 .
/TASS/ .
The coronavirus outbreak is unlikely to affect the tourism industry , Urals Tourism @ @ @ @ @ a press conference at the TASS regional information center on Tuesday .
`` If the @ @ @ @ @ the tourism industry will get over it easily enough because China has a limited market @ @ @ @ @ out .
`` However , if the virus spreads to other countries in Southeast Asia @ @ @ @ @ , the Federal Agency for Tourism and other watchdogs recommend against tourist trips to those @ @ @ @ @ Vietnam , and if it happens in the near future , then the situation could @ @ @ @ @ it will take measures to save the industry .
Still , the current situation poses @ @ @ @ @ market , '' Maltsev added .

YEKATERINBURG, January 28. /TASS/. The coronavirus outbreak is unlikely to affect the tourism industry, Urals Tourism Association Director Mikhail Maltsev told a press conference at the TASS regional information center on Tuesday.
"If the infection does not spread, the tourism industry will get over it easily enough because China has a limited market share," he pointed out. "However, if the virus spreads to other countries in Southeast Asia and the Russian consumer watchdog, the Federal Agency for Tourism and other watchdogs recommend against tourist trips to those countries, particularly Thailand and Vietnam, and if it happens in the near future, then the situation could get out of control and it will take measures to save the industry. Still, the current situation poses no threat to the tourism market," Maltsev added.


tass--2020-01-28--Countries prepare to evacuate citizens from Wuhan due to spread of coronavirus

Several countries are also considering the possibility of evacuating their citizens from closed-off areas , including Spain , Indonesia , Kazakhstan , the Netherlands , Pakistan , and South Korea ; however , they are waiting for the approval of the Chinese government .
The US Embassy in Beijing informed that it would be impossible to evacuate all American citizens from Wuhan , and that a special flight from Wuhan to Ontario would be able to transport only employees of the US Consulate General in Wuhan and private citizens under the highest risk of becoming infected .
Japan plans to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday evening to evacuate 200 citizens , while 650 Japanese residents have expressed the wish to leave the city .
MOSCOW , January 28 .
/TASS/ .
The US and Japan plan to begin evacuation of their citizens from the Chinese city of Wuhan , which was sealed off due to the spread of a new type of coronavirus .
According to recent data , 4,547 people have been infected with the virus , with 106 people dead .
For its part , the Russian embassy informed that the Chinese government had made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ citizens from the Hubei province , where Wuhan is located .
`` The Russian embassy maintains contact with China , discussing the possibility and the procedure of evacuating our compatriots from the territory of the province .
According to our information , no decision has been made currently regarding the exit of foreign citizens from the region , '' the embassy stated .
The Russian diplomatic mission added that China is ready to provide food and basic necessities to those remaining in the Hubei province .
`` Foreign citizens are advised to stay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adhering to all necessary prophylactic measures , '' the message informs .
It was reported earlier that there are about 140 Russians currently staying in Wuhan , including 75 students .
On December 31 , 2019 , Chinese authorities informed the World Health Organization ( WHO ) about an outbreak of an unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan - a large trade and industrial center in central China populated by 11 million people .
On January 7 , Chinese experts identified the infecting agent : coronavirus 2019-nCoV .
In the past 24 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rise in the number of people infected with the new type of coronavirus originating from China ’ s Wuhan .
The virus continues to spread in China and other states , including Australia , Canada , Vietnam , Germany , Cambodia , Malaysia , Nepal , the Republic of Korea , Singapore , the USA , Thailand , France , Sri Lanka and Japan .
The WHO recognized the pneumonia outbreak in China as a national emergency but stopped short of declaring an international one .
Russian companies are cancelling flights to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including Hainan , while some carriers , such as Aeroflot and S7 , are offering free refunds for tickets to China scheduled until late February .
Russian tour operators are preparing to evacuate about 6-7,000 Russian tourists from China .

Several countries are also considering the possibility of evacuating their citizens from closed-off areas, including Spain, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, the Netherlands, Pakistan, and South Korea; however, they are waiting for the approval of the Chinese government. The US Embassy in Beijing informed that it would be impossible to evacuate all American citizens from Wuhan, and that a special flight from Wuhan to Ontario would be able to transport only employees of the US Consulate General in Wuhan and private citizens under the highest risk of becoming infected. Japan plans to send a charter flight to Wuhan on Tuesday evening to evacuate 200 citizens, while 650 Japanese residents have expressed the wish to leave the city.
MOSCOW, January 28. /TASS/. The US and Japan plan to begin evacuation of their citizens from the Chinese city of Wuhan, which was sealed off due to the spread of a new type of coronavirus. According to recent data, 4,547 people have been infected with the virus, with 106 people dead.
For its part, the Russian embassy informed that the Chinese government had made no decision so far on evacuating Russian citizens from the Hubei province, where Wuhan is located. "The Russian embassy maintains contact with China, discussing the possibility and the procedure of evacuating our compatriots from the territory of the province. According to our information, no decision has been made currently regarding the exit of foreign citizens from the region," the embassy stated.
The Russian diplomatic mission added that China is ready to provide food and basic necessities to those remaining in the Hubei province. "Foreign citizens are advised to stay in their places of residence, closely adhering to all necessary prophylactic measures," the message informs. It was reported earlier that there are about 140 Russians currently staying in Wuhan, including 75 students.
On December 31, 2019, Chinese authorities informed the World Health Organization (WHO) about an outbreak of an unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan - a large trade and industrial center in central China populated by 11 million people. On January 7, Chinese experts identified the infecting agent: coronavirus 2019-nCoV.
In the past 24 hours, there has been a sharp rise in the number of people infected with the new type of coronavirus originating from China’s Wuhan. The virus continues to spread in China and other states, including Australia, Canada, Vietnam, Germany, Cambodia, Malaysia, Nepal, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, the USA, Thailand, France, Sri Lanka and Japan. The WHO recognized the pneumonia outbreak in China as a national emergency but stopped short of declaring an international one.
Russian companies are cancelling flights to the most popular tourist destinations in China, including Hainan, while some carriers, such as Aeroflot and S7, are offering free refunds for tickets to China scheduled until late February. Russian tour operators are preparing to evacuate about 6-7,000 Russian tourists from China.


tass--2020-01-28--Russian tour operators put group tours from China on hold

MOSCOW , January 28 .
/TASS/ .
Russian tour operators have put group tours from China on hold over coronavirus outbreak , Russian Union of Travel Industry says in a statement , adding that Monday , January 27 , has become the last day Russia accepted Chinese tourist groups .
`` The Chinese authorities have not issued a centralized travel ban .
Instead , they have delegated the decision to the regions , so each Chinese province made a decision separately .
Some provinces reacted swiftly , while others took their time .
Even yesterday , we were still processing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ By this moment , all lists are void , all group tours from China are suspended , '' the Union said citing Alexander Agamov , the CEO of World Without Borders tour association that unites almost 200 companies working with the Chinese market .
The tourists who have already entered Russia will not be forced to interrupt their tour and to leave country ahead of schedule , he noted .
The travel ban for Chinese tourists may reduce tourist flow from China in the first quarter of 2020 by some 70-80 % , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three months of 2019 , 130,000 Chinese tourists visited Russia , and in 2020 , this number was supposed to increase .
While making his predictions , Agamov assumed that the travel ban would hold until mid-February .
In this scenario , the tour companies would be able to catch up before the end of this year .
However , the related industries - hotels , museums , airlines - would have a hard time , especially during the low season , he speculated .
The 2019-nCoV coronavirus-induced pneumonia has been detected in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ city of Wuhan .
According to the latest data , the number of confirmed infection cases has increased to 4515 , 106 of them were lethal .
Infection cases were registered in almost every Chinese province , including Beijing and Shanghai .
The virus has also been identified in Australia , Canada , Vietnam , Germany , Cambodia , Malaysia , Nepal , South Korea , Singapore , the US , Thailand , France , Japan and Sri-Lanka .
The World Health Organization ( WHO ) has declared the outbreak a national emergency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ refrained from declaring an international one .

MOSCOW, January 28. /TASS/. Russian tour operators have put group tours from China on hold over coronavirus outbreak, Russian Union of Travel Industry says in a statement, adding that Monday, January 27, has become the last day Russia accepted Chinese tourist groups.
"The Chinese authorities have not issued a centralized travel ban. Instead, they have delegated the decision to the regions, so each Chinese province made a decision separately. Some provinces reacted swiftly, while others took their time. Even yesterday, we were still processing groups, checking visa-free travel lists. By this moment, all lists are void, all group tours from China are suspended," the Union said citing Alexander Agamov, the CEO of World Without Borders tour association that unites almost 200 companies working with the Chinese market.
The tourists who have already entered Russia will not be forced to interrupt their tour and to leave country ahead of schedule, he noted.
The travel ban for Chinese tourists may reduce tourist flow from China in the first quarter of 2020 by some 70-80%, Agamov told TASS. In the first three months of 2019, 130,000 Chinese tourists visited Russia, and in 2020, this number was supposed to increase.
While making his predictions, Agamov assumed that the travel ban would hold until mid-February. In this scenario, the tour companies would be able to catch up before the end of this year. However, the related industries - hotels, museums, airlines - would have a hard time, especially during the low season, he speculated.
About the virus
The 2019-nCoV coronavirus-induced pneumonia has been detected in late December last year in the Chinese city of Wuhan. According to the latest data, the number of confirmed infection cases has increased to 4515, 106 of them were lethal. Infection cases were registered in almost every Chinese province, including Beijing and Shanghai.
The virus has also been identified in Australia, Canada, Vietnam, Germany, Cambodia, Malaysia, Nepal, South Korea, Singapore, the US, Thailand, France, Japan and Sri-Lanka. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the outbreak a national emergency in China, but so far has refrained from declaring an international one.