tass--2020-02-03--Over 17,200 people infected with coronavirus in China

BEIJING , February 3 .
/TASS/ .
The number of people infected with the novel coronavirus-induced pneumonia in China has increased to 17,205 , with the death toll reaching 361 , the National Health Commission of the People ’ s Republic of China said in a statement on Monday .
`` As of 12 o'clock midnight on Feb 2 ( 7:00 p.m. on Sunday Moscow time - TASS ) , the National Health Commission had received 17,205 reports of confirmed cases and 361 deaths in 31 provincial-level regions on the Chinese mainland and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ discharged from hospital .
There still remained 21,558 suspected cases and 2,296 patients in serious condition , '' the statement said .
On Sunday , 2,829 new cases of confirmed infections and 57 deaths were reported in the country , the Commission said .
`` So far , 189,583 people have been identified as having had close contact with infected patients .
152,700 are now under medical observation , '' the statement said .
On December 31 , 2019 , Chinese authorities informed the World Health Organization ( WHO ) about an outbreak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Wuhan , a large trade and industrial center in central China populated by 11 million people .
On January 7 , 2020 , Chinese experts identified the infecting agent as coronavirus 2019-nCoV .
This new strain of coronavirus has already been identified in another 23 countries , including Russia .
The World Health Organization has recognized the pneumonia outbreak in China as an international emergency .

BEIJING, February 3. /TASS/. The number of people infected with the novel coronavirus-induced pneumonia in China has increased to 17,205, with the death toll reaching 361, the National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China said in a statement on Monday.
"As of 12 o'clock midnight on Feb 2 (7:00 p.m. on Sunday Moscow time - TASS), the National Health Commission had received 17,205 reports of confirmed cases and 361 deaths in 31 provincial-level regions on the Chinese mainland and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, and 475 patients had been cured and discharged from hospital. There still remained 21,558 suspected cases and 2,296 patients in serious condition," the statement said.
On Sunday, 2,829 new cases of confirmed infections and 57 deaths were reported in the country, the Commission said.
"So far, 189,583 people have been identified as having had close contact with infected patients. 152,700 are now under medical observation," the statement said.
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, 2020, Chinese experts identified the infecting agent as coronavirus 2019-nCoV. This new strain of coronavirus has already been identified in another 23 countries, including Russia. The World Health Organization has recognized the pneumonia outbreak in China as an international emergency.


tass--2020-02-03--Number of people infected with coronavirus in China’s Hubei province goes up by 2,103

TASS , February 3 .
The number of people infected with the infamous coronavirus 2019-nCoV in China ’ s Hubei province rose by 2,103 by Monday morning to over 11,100 people , with the death toll in the region reaching 350 , according to the statement released on the official website of the province ’ s healthcare committee .
Out of reported infection cases , 1,033 were revealed in the administrative center of the province , the city of Wuhan , the statement said .
Another 56 people infected with coronavirus-induced pneumonia died , as of 12:00 a.m. February 3 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) .
China ’ s Wangyi news portal reported earlier citing official data from Chinese regions that the number of people infected with the virus in China increased by 109 by Sunday night to 14,489 , with the death toll of 304 , and 418 patients were released from hospitals .
On December 31 , 2019 , Chinese authorities informed the World Health Organization ( WHO ) about an outbreak of an unknown pneumonia in Wuhan .
On January 7 , 2020 , Chinese experts identified the infecting agent as coronavirus 2019-nCoV .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ been identified in another 23 countries , including Russia .
The World Health Organization has recognized the pneumonia outbreak in China as an international emergency .

TASS, February 3. The number of people infected with the infamous coronavirus 2019-nCoV in China’s Hubei province rose by 2,103 by Monday morning to over 11,100 people, with the death toll in the region reaching 350, according to the statement released on the official website of the province’s healthcare committee.
Out of reported infection cases, 1,033 were revealed in the administrative center of the province, the city of Wuhan, the statement said. Another 56 people infected with coronavirus-induced pneumonia died, as of 12:00 a.m. February 3 local time (6:00 p.m. Moscow time).
China’s Wangyi news portal reported earlier citing official data from Chinese regions that the number of people infected with the virus in China increased by 109 by Sunday night to 14,489, with the death toll of 304, and 418 patients were released from hospitals.
On December 31, 2019, Chinese authorities informed the World Health Organization (WHO) about an outbreak of an unknown pneumonia in Wuhan. On January 7, 2020, Chinese experts identified the infecting agent as coronavirus 2019-nCoV. This new strain of coronavirus has already been identified in another 23 countries, including Russia. The World Health Organization has recognized the pneumonia outbreak in China as an international emergency.


tass--2020-02-03--Sam Mendes’ historical drama "1917" takes ‘Best Film’ BAFTA award

LONDON , February 3 .
/TASS/ .
The historical drama by Sam Mendes `` 1917 '' received the ‘ Best @ @ @ @ @ Director ’ awards from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts ( BAFTA ) @ @ @ @ @ ceremony on Sunday night .
The World War I drama starring Dean-Charles Chapman , George @ @ @ @ @ Colin Firth and Benedict Cumberbatch , won in seven of the nine categories , in @ @ @ @ @ including ‘ Outstanding British Film ’ , ‘ Best Cinematography ’ , ‘ Best Production @ @ @ @ @ Sound ’ , and ‘ Best Special Visual Effects ’ .
Joaquin Phoenix , who @ @ @ @ @ `` Joker , '' was named best actor , while Renee Zellweger was named best @ @ @ @ @ Judy Garland in the namesake biopic `` Judy '' .

LONDON, February 3. /TASS/. The historical drama by Sam Mendes "1917" received the ‘Best Film’ and ‘Best Director’ awards from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) at the 73rd BAFTA awards ceremony on Sunday night. The World War I drama starring Dean-Charles Chapman, George MacKay, Daniel Mays, Colin Firth and Benedict Cumberbatch, won in seven of the nine categories, in which it was nominated, including ‘Outstanding British Film’, ‘Best Cinematography’, ‘Best Production Design’, ‘Best Sound’, and ‘Best Special Visual Effects’.
Joaquin Phoenix, who played the title role in "Joker," was named best actor, while Renee Zellweger was named best actress for her role as Judy Garland in the namesake biopic "Judy".


tass--2020-02-03--Russian Railways suspends passenger service with China

MOSCOW , February 3 .
/TASS/ .
Russian Railways has fully suspended passenger service with China starting February 3 due to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus-induced pneumonia , the company said in a statement released on February 2 .
Previously trains continued running between Moscow and Beijing .
`` In conformity with a letter by Chief State Sanitary Inspector in charge of railway transport of the Russian Federation with the aim of preventing possible proliferation of the novel coronavirus infection into the territory of the Russian Federation passenger railway service with China will be temporarily suspended starting 12:01 a.m. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' the statement said .
`` The direct train between Moscow and Beijing that set off from Moscow on February 1 will terminate in Zabaikalsk , '' the company added .
Regular passenger flights performed by Russian and Chinese airlines , including commercial ones , between Russia and China were also suspended starting February 1 .
Exceptions are regular flights between Moscow and Beijing , Moscow and Shanghai , Moscow and Guangzhou , Moscow and Hong Kong .
On December 31 , 2019 , Chinese authorities informed the World Health Organization ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan , a large trade and industrial center in central China populated by 11 million people .
On January 7 , 2020 , Chinese experts identified the infecting agent as coronavirus 2019-nCoV .
This new strain of coronavirus has already been identified in another 23 countries , including Russia .
Currently , the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in China has exceeded 14,000 with over 300 deaths reported .
One more death was reported outside China - in the Philippines .
The World Health Organization has recognized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ international emergency .

MOSCOW, February 3. /TASS/. Russian Railways has fully suspended passenger service with China starting February 3 due to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus-induced pneumonia, the company said in a statement released on February 2. Previously trains continued running between Moscow and Beijing.
"In conformity with a letter by Chief State Sanitary Inspector in charge of railway transport of the Russian Federation with the aim of preventing possible proliferation of the novel coronavirus infection into the territory of the Russian Federation passenger railway service with China will be temporarily suspended starting 12:01 a.m. Moscow time on February 3, 2020," the statement said.
"The direct train between Moscow and Beijing that set off from Moscow on February 1 will terminate in Zabaikalsk," the company added.
Regular passenger flights performed by Russian and Chinese airlines, including commercial ones, between Russia and China were also suspended starting February 1. Exceptions are regular flights between Moscow and Beijing, Moscow and Shanghai, Moscow and Guangzhou, Moscow and Hong Kong.
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, 2020, Chinese experts identified the infecting agent as coronavirus 2019-nCoV.
This new strain of coronavirus has already been identified in another 23 countries, including Russia. Currently, the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in China has exceeded 14,000 with over 300 deaths reported. One more death was reported outside China - in the Philippines. The World Health Organization has recognized the pneumonia outbreak in China as an international emergency.


tass--2020-02-02--London terror attack suspect had hoax explosive device, says Metropolitan Police

LONDON , February 2 .
/TASS/ .
The London terror attack suspect had a hoax suicide vest , London ’ s Metropolitan Police said on Sunday .
`` A device was found strapped to the body of the suspect and specialist officers attended , '' it said on its Twitter account .
`` Cordons were put in place and it was quickly established that this was a hoax device . ''
`` The incident was quickly declared as a terrorist incident and we believe it to be Islamist-related , '' as follows from a statement by DAC Lucy D ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attacked passersby in Streatham High Road , Lambeth .
Before he was shot dead by the police , he had stabbed two people .
The victims were taken to hospital .
One man is in life-threatening condition and a woman is treated for non-life threatening injuries .
One more woman was slightly injured by pieces of glass .
The suspect ’ s identity is not disclosed .
According to Sky News , the man was under police supervision .
The latest terror attack in London was committed on November 29 , 2019 when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attacked passersby with a knife in the London Bridge area , killing two .
In 2017 , three terrorists with knives killed eight people also in the London Bridge .
In both cases , the attackers had hoax explosive devices and were shot dead by the police .

LONDON, February 2. /TASS/. The London terror attack suspect had a hoax suicide vest, London’s Metropolitan Police said on Sunday.
"A device was found strapped to the body of the suspect and specialist officers attended," it said on its Twitter account. "Cordons were put in place and it was quickly established that this was a hoax device."
"The incident was quickly declared as a terrorist incident and we believe it to be Islamist-related," as follows from a statement by DAC Lucy D’Orsi.
A terrorist with a knife attacked passersby in Streatham High Road, Lambeth. Before he was shot dead by the police, he had stabbed two people. The victims were taken to hospital. One man is in life-threatening condition and a woman is treated for non-life threatening injuries. One more woman was slightly injured by pieces of glass.
The suspect’s identity is not disclosed. According to Sky News, the man was under police supervision.
The latest terror attack in London was committed on November 29, 2019 when a man with a hoax explosive device attacked passersby with a knife in the London Bridge area, killing two. In 2017, three terrorists with knives killed eight people also in the London Bridge. In both cases, the attackers had hoax explosive devices and were shot dead by the police.


tass--2020-02-02--Iran offers $80,000 to families of each Ukrainian killed in plane crash - Zelensky

KIEV , February 2 .
/TASS/ .
Iran has offered to pay a sum of 80,000 US dollars to each family of Ukrainian nationals who died in the Ukraine International Airlines passenger jet crash near Teheran but Kiev thinks this sum is not enough , Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky said on Sunday .
`` As for the Ukrainian side , they offered a sum of 80,000 US dollars to the families of each crash victim but we did not accept it .
I think it is not enough , '' he told the 1+1 television channel .
`` A human @ @ @ @ @ @ @ denomination but we will press for bigger compensation . ''
He once again said that Kiev demanded the plane ’ s flight recorders be given to the Ukrainian side for decoding .
According to Zelensky , the Iranian side suggested Ukrainian specialists be commissioned to Iran for these purposes .
However he said the Iranian side might refuse to hand over the flight recorders after decoding them .
`` No , we want to have them [ the flight recorders ] back in Ukraine , '' he said , adding that Ukrainian specialists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flight recorders to Ukraine in case they were not completely decoded in Iran .
The Iranian authorities said such an option was possible , he recalled .
On January 8 , a Boeing-737 of the Ukrainian International Airlines bound for Kiev crashed minutes after takeoff at Tehran ’ s Imam Khomeini Airport .
The crash killed all 176 people on board - citizens of Afghanistan , Germany , Iran , Canada and Ukraine and also British and Swedish subjects .
On January 11 , Iran ’ s Armed Forces General Staff released a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shot down .
According to Iranian Brigadier-General Amir-Ali Hajizadeh , the plane was misidentified as a cruise missile by the air defense force .

KIEV, February 2. /TASS/. Iran has offered to pay a sum of 80,000 US dollars to each family of Ukrainian nationals who died in the Ukraine International Airlines passenger jet crash near Teheran but Kiev thinks this sum is not enough, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky said on Sunday.
"As for the Ukrainian side, they offered a sum of 80,000 US dollars to the families of each crash victim but we did not accept it. I think it is not enough," he told the 1+1 television channel. "A human life cannot be measured in monetary denomination but we will press for bigger compensation."
He once again said that Kiev demanded the plane’s flight recorders be given to the Ukrainian side for decoding. According to Zelensky, the Iranian side suggested Ukrainian specialists be commissioned to Iran for these purposes. However he said the Iranian side might refuse to hand over the flight recorders after decoding them. "No, we want to have them [the flight recorders] back in Ukraine," he said, adding that Ukrainian specialists should have a possibility to take the flight recorders to Ukraine in case they were not completely decoded in Iran. The Iranian authorities said such an option was possible, he recalled.
On January 8, a Boeing-737 of the Ukrainian International Airlines bound for Kiev crashed minutes after takeoff at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini Airport. The crash killed all 176 people on board - citizens of Afghanistan, Germany, Iran, Canada and Ukraine and also British and Swedish subjects.
On January 11, Iran’s Armed Forces General Staff released a statement admitting the plane had been mistakenly shot down. According to Iranian Brigadier-General Amir-Ali Hajizadeh, the plane was misidentified as a cruise missile by the air defense force.


tass--2020-02-02--Premier researcher of Novgorod birch bark letters Valentin Yanin dies at age of 91

MOSCOW , February 2 .
/TASS/ .
Valentin Yanin , a member of the Russian Academy of Sciences and a @ @ @ @ @ Novgorod birch bark manuscripts , has died at the age of 90 , his widow @ @ @ @ @ of the Moscow State University ’ s archaeology department , said on Sunday .
`` @ @ @ @ @ she wrote on her Facebook account .
Yanin ’ s areas of interest included medieval @ @ @ @ @ and source study , research of birch bark letters .

MOSCOW, February 2. /TASS/. Valentin Yanin, a member of the Russian Academy of Sciences and a world-acclaimed archaeologists and expert in Novgorod birch bark manuscripts, has died at the age of 90, his widow Elena Rybina, a professor of the Moscow State University’s archaeology department, said on Sunday.
"Absolutely irreparable loss," she wrote on her Facebook account.
Yanin’s areas of interest included medieval Novgorod history, archaeology, and source study, research of birch bark letters.


tass--2020-02-02--Favorable situation created for Russian-Indonesian military technical cooperation - Lavrov

MOSCOW , February 2 .
/TASS/ .
The atmosphere of mutual trust and regular contacts between Russia ’ s and Indonesia ’ s defense officials create a favorable situation for the development of military technical cooperation between the countries , Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with Indonesia ’ s Kompas newspaper on the 70th anniversary on diplomatic relations between the two countries .
The interview was posted on the Russian foreign ministry ’ s website on Sunday .
`` The high level of mutual trust creates favorable atmosphere for the development of military and military technical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the countries ’ senior defense officials .
Russian servicemen take part in joint drills in Indonesia , '' he noted .
`` A major component of defense cooperation is the export of Russian weapons and military hardware . ''
According to the Russian top diplomat , Moscow and Jakarta maintain close cooperation in the area of countering security threats , with `` regular productive dialogue '' being established between Russian and Indonesian relevant agencies .
Russian Ambassador to Jakarta Vakhid Suproyadi said in March 2019 that it was planned to begin exports of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
However the deal has not yet been signed because of the United States ’ efforts to frustrate it .

MOSCOW, February 2. /TASS/. The atmosphere of mutual trust and regular contacts between Russia’s and Indonesia’s defense officials create a favorable situation for the development of military technical cooperation between the countries, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with Indonesia’s Kompas newspaper on the 70th anniversary on diplomatic relations between the two countries.
The interview was posted on the Russian foreign ministry’s website on Sunday.
"The high level of mutual trust creates favorable atmosphere for the development of military and military technical cooperation. Regular meetings are organized between the countries’ senior defense officials. Russian servicemen take part in joint drills in Indonesia," he noted. "A major component of defense cooperation is the export of Russian weapons and military hardware."
According to the Russian top diplomat, Moscow and Jakarta maintain close cooperation in the area of countering security threats, with "regular productive dialogue" being established between Russian and Indonesian relevant agencies.
Russian Ambassador to Jakarta Vakhid Suproyadi said in March 2019 that it was planned to begin exports of Russian Su-35 fighter jets to Indonesia soon. However the deal has not yet been signed because of the United States’ efforts to frustrate it.


tass--2020-02-02--Russia ready to share its experience in nuclear energy sector with Indonesia - Lavrov

MOSCOW , February 2 .
/TASS/ .
Russia and Indonesia have a serious potential for the development of cooperation in high-technology sectors and Moscow is ready to share its experience in the nuclear energy sector with Indonesia , Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with Indonesia ’ s Kompas newspaper on the 70th anniversary on diplomatic relations between the two countries .
The interview was posted on the Russian foreign ministry ’ s website on Sunday .
`` We have brilliant possibilities for the expansion of cooperation in high-technology sectors , including aircraft-building , information and communications @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the area of mutual supplies of agricultural produce .
We are ready to share our experience in the nuclear energy sector with the Indonesian friends , '' Lavrov said .
`` In general , be believe that it is in our common interests to keep the current pace of practical cooperation and to do our best to further develop business ties , '' he said .
The minister noted that joint efforts in the sphere of practical cooperation are coordinated by the Russian-Indonesian joint commission on trade-and-economic and technical cooperation that was set @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in his words , large-scale infrastructure projects with the participations of such Russian companies as RZD and Rosneft are being implemented in Indonesia .

MOSCOW, February 2. /TASS/. Russia and Indonesia have a serious potential for the development of cooperation in high-technology sectors and Moscow is ready to share its experience in the nuclear energy sector with Indonesia, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with Indonesia’s Kompas newspaper on the 70th anniversary on diplomatic relations between the two countries.
The interview was posted on the Russian foreign ministry’s website on Sunday.
"We have brilliant possibilities for the expansion of cooperation in high-technology sectors, including aircraft-building, information and communications technologies. We have serious potential in the area of mutual supplies of agricultural produce. We are ready to share our experience in the nuclear energy sector with the Indonesian friends," Lavrov said.
"In general, be believe that it is in our common interests to keep the current pace of practical cooperation and to do our best to further develop business ties," he said.
The minister noted that joint efforts in the sphere of practical cooperation are coordinated by the Russian-Indonesian joint commission on trade-and-economic and technical cooperation that was set up in 2002. Apart from that, in his words, large-scale infrastructure projects with the participations of such Russian companies as RZD and Rosneft are being implemented in Indonesia.


tass--2020-02-02--Russian Railways suspends passenger service with China from February 3

MOSCOW , February 2 .
/TASS/ .
Russian Railways said on Sunday that it suspended passenger service with China starting from February 3 over the novel coronavirus outbreak .
`` In conformity with a letter from the Russia chief state sanitary doctor in charge of ralway transport < … > passenger railway service with China will be temporarily suspended from 00:00 Moscow time on February 3 , 2020 to prevent possible proliferation of the novel coronavirus infections into Russia , '' it said in a press statement .
Railway service between the two countries was suspended from December 31 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The direct Moscow-Beijing train that set off from Moscow on February 1 will terminate in Zabaikalsk , RZD said .
Russian Railways reaffirmed that unused tickets for cancelled trains purchased in Russian sales offices can be refunded without any fees .
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 metropolis in central China with a population of 11 million .
On January 7 , 2020 , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Cases of the new coronavirus were also reported from 23 other countries , including Australia , Vietnam , India , Canada , the United States and Thailand .
On January 30 , the World Health Organization declared the new coronavirus outbreak an international public health emergency .
By now , the number of confirmed cases of the disease has exceeded 14,000 , with more than 300 dead from this epidemic .
One lethal case was reported outside China , in the Philippines .

MOSCOW, February 2. /TASS/. Russian Railways said on Sunday that it suspended passenger service with China starting from February 3 over the novel coronavirus outbreak.
"In conformity with a letter from the Russia chief state sanitary doctor in charge of ralway transport <…> passenger railway service with China will be temporarily suspended from 00:00 Moscow time on February 3, 2020 to prevent possible proliferation of the novel coronavirus infections into Russia," it said in a press statement.
Railway service between the two countries was suspended from December 31, 2019 but for the section Moscow-Beijing. The direct Moscow-Beijing train that set off from Moscow on February 1 will terminate in Zabaikalsk, RZD said.
Russian Railways reaffirmed that unused tickets for cancelled trains purchased in Russian sales offices can be refunded without any fees.
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 metropolis in central China with a population of 11 million. On January 7, 2020, the infecting agent was identified as coronavirus 2019-nCoV.
Cases of the new coronavirus were also reported from 23 other countries, including Australia, Vietnam, India, Canada, the United States and Thailand. On January 30, the World Health Organization declared the new coronavirus outbreak an international public health emergency.
By now, the number of confirmed cases of the disease has exceeded 14,000, with more than 300 dead from this epidemic. One lethal case was reported outside China, in the Philippines.


tass--2020-02-02--Russia, Indonesia to raise relations to level of strategic partnership - Lavrov

MOSCOW , February 2 .
/TASS/ .
Russia and Indonesia plan to raise their bilateral relations to the level of strategic partnership , Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with Indonesia ’ s Kompas newspaper on the 70th anniversary on diplomatic relations between the two countries .
The interview was posted on the Russian foreign ministry ’ s website on Sunday .
`` The key item on the agenda is to raise our ties to the level of strategic partnership .
We continue to work on this task with our Indonesian friends , '' Lavrov said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s major partner in Southeast Asia and the Asia Pacific region .
`` A regular dialogue has been established at the high and top levels .
A serious legal framework has been created .
The key element of it is the Declaration on the Foundations of Friendly and Partner Relations in the 21st Century that was signed in 2003 , '' he noted .
The Russian top diplomat noted that Russians first learned about Indonesia back in the 19th century when Russian sea expeditions began to visit the archipelago ’ s islands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opened in Batavia in 1894 .
After Indonesia declared its independence in 1945 , the former Soviet Union offered all-round support and assistance to the young state .
`` Thanks to our country ’ s efforts , the United Nations recognized Indonesia ’ s sovereignty over most of the territories of the Dutch East Indies on December 27 , 1949 .
On January 25 and February 3 , 1950 , the foreign ministers exchanged telegrams on the establishment of diplomatic relations , '' Lavrov recalled .

MOSCOW, February 2. /TASS/. Russia and Indonesia plan to raise their bilateral relations to the level of strategic partnership, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with Indonesia’s Kompas newspaper on the 70th anniversary on diplomatic relations between the two countries.
The interview was posted on the Russian foreign ministry’s website on Sunday.
"The key item on the agenda is to raise our ties to the level of strategic partnership. We continue to work on this task with our Indonesian friends," Lavrov said.
The minister stressed that Indonesia is Russia’s major partner in Southeast Asia and the Asia Pacific region. "A regular dialogue has been established at the high and top levels. A serious legal framework has been created. The key element of it is the Declaration on the Foundations of Friendly and Partner Relations in the 21st Century that was signed in 2003," he noted.
The Russian top diplomat noted that Russians first learned about Indonesia back in the 19th century when Russian sea expeditions began to visit the archipelago’s islands. The first Russian regular consulate was opened in Batavia in 1894.
After Indonesia declared its independence in 1945, the former Soviet Union offered all-round support and assistance to the young state. "Thanks to our country’s efforts, the United Nations recognized Indonesia’s sovereignty over most of the territories of the Dutch East Indies on December 27, 1949. On January 25 and February 3, 1950, the foreign ministers exchanged telegrams on the establishment of diplomatic relations," Lavrov recalled.


tass--2020-02-02--Militants’ drone intercepted by air defense systems of Russian base at Syria’s Hmeymim

MOSCOW , February 2 .
/TASS/ .
Servicemen of the Russian airbase at Syria ’ s Hmeymim replied an attack of drones launched from the territory of the terrorists-controlled Idlib de-escalation zone , Major General Yuri Borenkov , chief of the Russian Center for Reconciliation of the Opposing Parties in Syria , said on Sunday .
`` At about 23:00 Moscow time on February 1 , airspace control tools of the Russian airbase at Hmeymim stopped a cluster air target of unmanned aerial vehicles ( UAV ) launched from militants-controlled territory of the Idlib de-escalation zone .
The base ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the UAVs and deactivated their control systems , '' he said .
According to Borenkov , no one was hurt , no damage was done to the base .
The Hmeymim base continues to operate in a routine mode .
He also said that illegal armed groups continued to violate the ceasefire in the Idlib de-escalation zone .
`` Thirty-two shelling attacks were reported during the day , '' he said .
Four de-escalation zones were established in Syria under as agreement reached by the three Syrian ceasefire guarantor nations , namely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ May 2017 .
Three of them are now controlled by Damascus while the fourth one located in the Idlib governorate and partially in the neighboring Latakia , Hama and Aleppo governorates is still outside Damascus ’ control , with a larger part of it being seized by Jabhat al-Nusra ( a terrorist organization outlawed in Russia ) militants .
The Russian reconciliation center continues to fulfill assigned tasks after the completion of the military campaign in Syria .
The center ’ s officers regularly travel around the country 's liberated areas to assess @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Russian military are now focused on assistance to the refugees returning to their homes and evacuation of civilians from de-escalation zones .

MOSCOW, February 2. /TASS/. Servicemen of the Russian airbase at Syria’s Hmeymim replied an attack of drones launched from the territory of the terrorists-controlled Idlib de-escalation zone, Major General Yuri Borenkov, chief of the Russian Center for Reconciliation of the Opposing Parties in Syria, said on Sunday.
"At about 23:00 Moscow time on February 1, airspace control tools of the Russian airbase at Hmeymim stopped a cluster air target of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) launched from militants-controlled territory of the Idlib de-escalation zone. The base’s electronic warfare systems took over control of the UAVs and deactivated their control systems," he said.
According to Borenkov, no one was hurt, no damage was done to the base. The Hmeymim base continues to operate in a routine mode.
He also said that illegal armed groups continued to violate the ceasefire in the Idlib de-escalation zone. "Thirty-two shelling attacks were reported during the day," he said.
Four de-escalation zones were established in Syria under as agreement reached by the three Syrian ceasefire guarantor nations, namely Russia, Iran and Turkey, in May 2017. Three of them are now controlled by Damascus while the fourth one located in the Idlib governorate and partially in the neighboring Latakia, Hama and Aleppo governorates is still outside Damascus’ control, with a larger part of it being seized by Jabhat al-Nusra (a terrorist organization outlawed in Russia) militants.
The Russian reconciliation center continues to fulfill assigned tasks after the completion of the military campaign in Syria. The center’s officers regularly travel around the country's liberated areas to assess the humanitarian situation. The main efforts of the Russian military are now focused on assistance to the refugees returning to their homes and evacuation of civilians from de-escalation zones.


tass--2020-02-02--Global crisis consequences overcome, Russia can ensure social guarantees - official

MOSCOW , February 2 .
/TASS/ .
Russia has coped with the consequences of the global financial crisis and managed @ @ @ @ @ to back socio-economic guarantees to its citizens , first deputy head of the Russian president @ @ @ @ @ said on Sunday .
He drew attention to Russian President Vladimir Putin ’ s words @ @ @ @ @ .
`` This is what the president said in his state-of-the-nation address .
He said @ @ @ @ @ to create conditions .
That is why these words were said by the president now @ @ @ @ @ five years ago , '' he said in an interview with the Moscow .
Kremlin @ @ @ @ @ Rossiya-1 television channel .
`` It means that the country has overcome the global financial @ @ @ @ @ , even under the sanctions , it has managed to create conditions and a safety @ @ @ @ @ people , without any risks to the financial and economic system , '' he stressed @

MOSCOW, February 2. /TASS/. Russia has coped with the consequences of the global financial crisis and managed to build a safety cushion to back socio-economic guarantees to its citizens, first deputy head of the Russian president’s administration Sergei Kiriyenko said on Sunday.
He drew attention to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s words about mandatory indexation of pensions. "This is what the president said in his state-of-the-nation address. He said it had taken much time to create conditions. That is why these words were said by the president now. They could not come five years ago," he said in an interview with the Moscow. Kremlin. Putin program on the Rossiya-1 television channel.
"It means that the country has overcome the global financial crisis and its impacts and, even under the sanctions, it has managed to create conditions and a safety cushion to ensure guarantees for people, without any risks to the financial and economic system," he stressed.


tass--2020-02-02--Two people injured in terror attack in southern London

LONDON , February 2 .
/TASS/ .
Two persons have been injured in a terror attack in southern London , @ @ @ @ @ said on Sunday .
`` We believe there are two injured victims .
We await @ @ @ @ @ '' it said on its Twitter account .
The Metropolitan Police said earlier several people @ @ @ @ @ terror attack in London ’ s southern Streatham district .
The attacker had been shot @ @ @ @ @ According to Sky News television channel , he was an Islamist .

LONDON, February 2. /TASS/. Two persons have been injured in a terror attack in southern London, London’s Metropolitan Police said on Sunday.
"We believe there are two injured victims. We await updates on their conditions," it said on its Twitter account.
The Metropolitan Police said earlier several people had been stabbed in a terror attack in London’s southern Streatham district. The attacker had been shot dead by the police. According to Sky News television channel, he was an Islamist.


tass--2020-02-02--Iran to unveil new generation centrifuges in April - official

TASS , February 2 .
Iran will unveil uranium enrichment centrifuges of a new generation in April , Special Assistant to the Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran ( AEOI ) Ali Asghar Zarean said on Sunday .
`` The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran is set to unveil the new generation of domestically-manufactured centrifuge machines in April , '' ISNA quoted him as saying .
According to Zarean , latest modification of the centrifuge with SWU 50 ( Separate Work Unit ) was designed and manufactured by AEOI experts .
The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Iran nuclear deal , was signed between Iran and six international mediators ( the United Kingdom , Germany , China , Russia , the United States , and France ) in July 2015 .
Under the deal , Iran undertook to curb its nuclear activities and place them under total control of the International Atomic Energy Agency ( IAEA ) in exchange of abandonment of the sanctions imposed previously by the United Nations Security Council , the European Union and the United States over its nuclear program .
Iran pledged not to enrich @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for 15 years and maintain enriched uranium stockpiles at the level not exceeding 300 kg , as well as not to build new heavy-water reactors , not to accumulate heavy water and not to develop nuclear explosive devices .
The future of the deal was called in question after the United States ’ unilateral pullout on May 8 , 2018 and Washington ’ s unilateral oil export sanctions against Teheran .
Iran argues that all other participants , Europeans in the first place , ignore some of their own obligations in the economic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its current shape senseless .
This said , it began to gradually scale down its commitments under the deal .
In early January 2020 , Iran announced the final phase of scaling back its commitments under the landmark 2015 nuclear deal .
Teheran ’ s new move implies that it will not comply with the restrictions on the number of uranium enrichment centrifuges set forth by the JCPOA .
Following it , the tree European JCPOA signatory powers said Iran ’ s actions were leaving them no other choice than to trigger the @ @ @ @ @

TASS, February 2. Iran will unveil uranium enrichment centrifuges of a new generation in April, Special Assistant to the Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Ali Asghar Zarean said on Sunday.
"The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran is set to unveil the new generation of domestically-manufactured centrifuge machines in April," ISNA quoted him as saying.
According to Zarean, latest modification of the centrifuge with SWU 50 (Separate Work Unit) was designed and manufactured by AEOI experts.
Iran nuclear deal
The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), also known as the Iran nuclear deal, was signed between Iran and six international mediators (the United Kingdom, Germany, China, Russia, the United States, and France) in July 2015. Under the deal, Iran undertook to curb its nuclear activities and place them under total control of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in exchange of abandonment of the sanctions imposed previously by the United Nations Security Council, the European Union and the United States over its nuclear program.
Iran pledged not to enrich uranium above the level of 3.67% for 15 years and maintain enriched uranium stockpiles at the level not exceeding 300 kg, as well as not to build new heavy-water reactors, not to accumulate heavy water and not to develop nuclear explosive devices.
The future of the deal was called in question after the United States’ unilateral pullout on May 8, 2018 and Washington’s unilateral oil export sanctions against Teheran. Iran argues that all other participants, Europeans in the first place, ignore some of their own obligations in the economic sphere, thus making the deal in its current shape senseless. This said, it began to gradually scale down its commitments under the deal. In early January 2020, Iran announced the final phase of scaling back its commitments under the landmark 2015 nuclear deal. Teheran’s new move implies that it will not comply with the restrictions on the number of uranium enrichment centrifuges set forth by the JCPOA.
Following it, the tree European JCPOA signatory powers said Iran’s actions were leaving them no other choice than to trigger the JCPOA dispute resolution mechanism.


tass--2020-02-02--Several people stabbed in terror attack in southern London

# BREAKING : Metropolitan Police say they are dealing with an incident in Streatham amid reports of shots being fired pic.twitter.com/PvHMhLVhIk '' A man has been shot by armed officers in Streatham .
At this stage it is believed a number of people have been stabbed .
The circumstances are being assessed ; the incident has been declared as terrorist-related , '' it said on its Twitter account .
Photos featuring a man shot dead by the police and a videos from the scene were earlier posted in social networks .
One of them features a man in civvies standing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pointing a handgun at a lying man .
Another one features several policemen with weapons in their hands approaching a lying man and then rushing away from him .
According to Sky News TV , such behavior may indicate that the man had an explosive device of a hoax .
The latest terror attack in London was committed on November 29 , 2019 when a man with a hoax explosive device attacked passersby with a knife in the London Bridge area , killing two .
The attacker was shot dead by the police @

#BREAKING : Metropolitan Police say they are dealing with an incident in Streatham amid reports of shots being fired pic.twitter.com/PvHMhLVhIk
"A man has been shot by armed officers in Streatham. At this stage it is believed a number of people have been stabbed. The circumstances are being assessed; the incident has been declared as terrorist-related," it said on its Twitter account.
Photos featuring a man shot dead by the police and a videos from the scene were earlier posted in social networks. One of them features a man in civvies standing at a car with police lights and pointing a handgun at a lying man. Another one features several policemen with weapons in their hands approaching a lying man and then rushing away from him. According to Sky News TV, such behavior may indicate that the man had an explosive device of a hoax.
The latest terror attack in London was committed on November 29, 2019 when a man with a hoax explosive device attacked passersby with a knife in the London Bridge area, killing two. The attacker was shot dead by the police.


tass--2020-02-02--Pompeo arrives in Tashkent to take part in C5+1 ministerial meeting

TASHKENT , February 2 .
/TASS/ .
US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo has arrived in Uzbekistan ’ s capital city Tashkent to hold talks on bilateral and regional cooperation and take part in a ministerial meeting in the C5+1 ( Central Asia-USA ) format , the Uzbekforeign ministry said on Sunday .
`` US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo has arrived in Uzbekistan , '' the ministry said .
The program of Pompeo ’ s visit includes talks with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov .
Earlier , the US top diplomat visited Minsk and Nur-Sultan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lukashenko of Belarus and Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan and his Belarusian and Kazakh counterparts , Vladimir Makey and Mukhtar Tleuberdi .
The C5+1 ( Kazakhstan , Kyrgyzstan , Tajikistan , Turkmenistan , Uzbekistan , and the United States ) multilateral forum was established in November 2015 at a ministerial meeting in Samarkand with a goal of expanding intra-regional cooperation and Central Asia ’ s relations with the United States .
Participants in the format highly assess its potential .
However experts say the United States is using this format to expand its influence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ squeeze Russia and China out of it .

TASHKENT, February 2. /TASS/. US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo has arrived in Uzbekistan’s capital city Tashkent to hold talks on bilateral and regional cooperation and take part in a ministerial meeting in the C5+1 (Central Asia-USA) format, the Uzbekforeign ministry said on Sunday.
"US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo has arrived in Uzbekistan," the ministry said.
The program of Pompeo’s visit includes talks with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov.
Earlier, the US top diplomat visited Minsk and Nur-Sultan where he had talks with Presidents Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus and Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan and his Belarusian and Kazakh counterparts, Vladimir Makey and Mukhtar Tleuberdi.
The C5+1 (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and the United States) multilateral forum was established in November 2015 at a ministerial meeting in Samarkand with a goal of expanding intra-regional cooperation and Central Asia’s relations with the United States.
Participants in the format highly assess its potential. However experts say the United States is using this format to expand its influence in that region, ultimately seeking to squeeze Russia and China out of it.


tass--2020-02-02--Kiev must implement Minsk agreements rather than revise them - DPR’s negotiator

DONETSK , February 2 .
/TASS/ .
Kiev ’ s plans to offer a new package of agreements on Donbass to the leaders of the Normandy Four nations ( Germany , Russia , France , and Ukraine ) are doomed to failure , foreign minister of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People ’ s Republic ( DPR ) and DPR ’ s chief negotiator at the Contact Group peace talks , Natalia Nikonorova , said on Sunday .
Ukrainian presidential aide Andrei Yermak said in an interview with the Krym - Critical Thinking project on Saturday that early local elections in Donbass @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the withdrawal of `` foreign armed groups '' and Kiev ’ s regaining control over the Donbass section of the border with Russia .
For these ends , Ukraine would draft a new package of agreement on Donbass by the next meeting of the Normandy Four leaders .
`` Mr. Yerkmak , and the entire Ukrainian leadership , should finally accept the fact that any revision of the Minsk agreements is neither possible nor expedient , '' Nikonorova said .
She stressed that the Package of Measures could not be revised as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nations Security Council .
Moreover , in her words , Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky reiterated Kiev ’ s commitment to the Minsk accords during the Normandy Four summit in Paris on December 9 , 2019 .
`` It should be recalled that early local elections in Donbass are possible only after discussing and agreeing all legal aspects of the permanent special status with the republics ’ representatives .
It implies unblocking of the law on Donbass ’ special status by means of the implementation of the Steinmeier formula , elaboration of acts and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the special status in the constitution , '' she stressed .
Apart from that , she doubted that the Ukrainian authorities would be able to do that before October , since by now nothing had been done to incorporate the Steinmeier formula into Ukraine ’ s laws .
Peace settlement of the conflict in Donbass rests on the Package of Measures , known as Minsk-2 , that was signed by the Trilateral Contact Group on Ukraine comprising senior representatives from Russia , Ukraine and the European security watchdog OSCE on February 12 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the leaders of the Normandy Four nations , namely Russia , Germany , France and Ukraine .
The 13-point document envisages a ceasefire between Ukrainian government forces and people ’ s militias in the self-proclaimed republics in Donetsk and Lugansk and subsequent withdrawal of heavy weapons from the line of engagement .
The deal also lays out a roadmap for a lasting settlement in Ukraine , including amnesty , resumption of economic ties , local elections and a constitutional reform to give more autonomy to the war-torn eastern regions .

DONETSK, February 2. /TASS/. Kiev’s plans to offer a new package of agreements on Donbass to the leaders of the Normandy Four nations (Germany, Russia, France, and Ukraine) are doomed to failure, foreign minister of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) and DPR’s chief negotiator at the Contact Group peace talks, Natalia Nikonorova, said on Sunday.
Ukrainian presidential aide Andrei Yermak said in an interview with the Krym - Critical Thinking project on Saturday that early local elections in Donbass could be organized in October on condition of the withdrawal of "foreign armed groups" and Kiev’s regaining control over the Donbass section of the border with Russia. For these ends, Ukraine would draft a new package of agreement on Donbass by the next meeting of the Normandy Four leaders.
"Mr. Yerkmak, and the entire Ukrainian leadership, should finally accept the fact that any revision of the Minsk agreements is neither possible nor expedient," Nikonorova said.
She stressed that the Package of Measures could not be revised as it had been approved by the United Nations Security Council. Moreover, in her words, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky reiterated Kiev’s commitment to the Minsk accords during the Normandy Four summit in Paris on December 9, 2019.
"It should be recalled that early local elections in Donbass are possible only after discussing and agreeing all legal aspects of the permanent special status with the republics’ representatives. It implies unblocking of the law on Donbass’ special status by means of the implementation of the Steinmeier formula, elaboration of acts and agreements stemming from this law and enshrining the special status in the constitution," she stressed.
Apart from that, she doubted that the Ukrainian authorities would be able to do that before October, since by now nothing had been done to incorporate the Steinmeier formula into Ukraine’s laws.
Peace settlement of the conflict in Donbass rests on the Package of Measures, known as Minsk-2, that was signed by the Trilateral Contact Group on Ukraine comprising senior representatives from Russia, Ukraine and the European security watchdog OSCE on February 12, 2015, after marathon 16-hour talks between the leaders of the Normandy Four nations, namely Russia, Germany, France and Ukraine. The 13-point document envisages a ceasefire between Ukrainian government forces and people’s militias in the self-proclaimed republics in Donetsk and Lugansk and subsequent withdrawal of heavy weapons from the line of engagement. The deal also lays out a roadmap for a lasting settlement in Ukraine, including amnesty, resumption of economic ties, local elections and a constitutional reform to give more autonomy to the war-torn eastern regions.


tass--2020-02-02--Two reporters wounded in Syria while covering combat operations - TV

TASS , February 2 .
Two TV reporters have been wounded while doing their job in Syria ’ s northwestern @ @ @ @ @ s Al Ekhbariya television channel reported on Sunday .
According to the television channel , @ @ @ @ @ television channels were covering the Syrian government army ’ s offensive near al-Qarasi .
According @ @ @ @ @ cameramen from the Al-Alam and Al-Kausar television channels were wounded in an attack staged by @ @

TASS, February 2. Two TV reporters have been wounded while doing their job in Syria’s northwestern Aleppo governorate, Syria’s Al Ekhbariya television channel reported on Sunday.
According to the television channel, the journalists from Iranian Arabic-language television channels were covering the Syrian government army’s offensive near al-Qarasi.
According to SANA news agency, cameramen from the Al-Alam and Al-Kausar television channels were wounded in an attack staged by terrorists.


tass--2020-02-04--Russia imposes temporary ban on air travel of foreigners from China

MOSCOW , February 4 .
/TASS/ .
Foreign citizens travelling from China by air will be prohibited from entering the @ @ @ @ @ , February 4 , according to a decree published by the Russian government on Monday @ @ @ @ @ transport ministry , jointly with the Federal Security Service , the Federal Customs service and @ @ @ @ @ Oversight of Consumer Protection and Welfare [ Rospotrebnadzor ] should temporarily restrict the entry of @ @ @ @ @ of the Chinese People ’ s Republic by air , except for the air travel @ @ @ @ @ ( Sheremetyevo ) , '' the governmental decree reads The ban is not applicable to @ @ @ @ @ of the Eurasian Economic Union , as well as air crews , members of official @ @ @ @ @ a Russian residence permit . ''

MOSCOW, February 4. /TASS/. Foreign citizens travelling from China by air will be prohibited from entering the Russian territory starting from Tuesday, February 4, according to a decree published by the Russian government on Monday night.
"The Russian transport ministry, jointly with the Federal Security Service, the Federal Customs Service and the Federal Service for the Oversight of Consumer Protection and Welfare [Rospotrebnadzor] should temporarily restrict the entry of foreign citizens from the territory of the Chinese People’s Republic by air, except for the air travel border crossing point in Moscow (Sheremetyevo)," the governmental decree reads
The ban is not applicable to "citizens of states members of the Eurasian Economic Union, as well as air crews, members of official delegations and individuals who have a Russian residence permit."
The Russian Foreign Ministry was tasked with notifying China and other countries whose interests could be affected about those measures, explaining that those steps were justified and temporary.
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 economic and industrial metropolis in central China populated by 11 million people. On January 7, 2020, Chinese experts identified the infecting agent: coronavirus 2019-nCoV.
Cases of the new coronavirus have been confirmed in 23 other countries, including Russia, Australia, Vietnam, India, Canada, the United States and Thailand.
As of Monday, the total number of coronavirus cases in China exceeded 17,000, and the number of fatalities surpassed 350. One more fatality has been reported outside China - in the Philippines.


tass--2020-02-04--Turkey says it 'eliminated' 76 Syrian servicemen in retaliation for attack on its troops

ANKARA , February 4 .
/TASS/ .
Turkish National Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said his country had `` eliminated '' 76 Syrian servicemen in retaliation for the shelling of its troops in Syria ’ s Idlib governorate on Monday .
`` Strikes were carried out at 54 targets of [ Syrian President Bashar Assad ’ s ] regime .
According to information obtained from various sources , 76 servicemen of the regime have been eliminated to date , '' Turkey ’ s NTV channel quoted him as saying .
Akar claimed that on February 2 , Turkey informed Russia twice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Idlib .
`` Yesterday , at around 16:16 and 22:27 , our colleagues gave this information to relevant personnel from the Russian side , '' he said .
On Monday , Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Turkish jets and artillery had carried out strikes against 40 targets in Syria ’ s Idlib in response to the shelling of its troops in the area of Saraqib .
According to the NTV news channel , six soldiers were killed and nine others injured when their positions near Saraqib , Idlib province , came @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Syrian army had been notified of the positions the Turkish forces were taking in advance .
Earlier , the Russian center for reconciliation of the opposing parties in Syria said Turkish military personnel had come under an attack of Syrian troops in Idlib , because Turkey had failed to notify Russia about the movements of its troops in advance .
The Syrian troops were firing on terrorists retreating to Saraqib .

ANKARA, February 4. /TASS/. Turkish National Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said his country had "eliminated" 76 Syrian servicemen in retaliation for the shelling of its troops in Syria’s Idlib governorate on Monday.
"Strikes were carried out at 54 targets of [Syrian President Bashar Assad’s] regime. According to information obtained from various sources, 76 servicemen of the regime have been eliminated to date," Turkey’s NTV channel quoted him as saying.
Akar claimed that on February 2, Turkey informed Russia twice about the movements of its troops in Idlib.
"Yesterday, at around 16:16 and 22:27, our colleagues gave this information to relevant personnel from the Russian side ," he said.
On Monday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Turkish jets and artillery had carried out strikes against 40 targets in Syria’s Idlib in response to the shelling of its troops in the area of Saraqib. According to the NTV news channel, six soldiers were killed and nine others injured when their positions near Saraqib, Idlib province, came under fire. Ankara argues that the Syrian army had been notified of the positions the Turkish forces were taking in advance.
Earlier, the Russian center for reconciliation of the opposing parties in Syria said Turkish military personnel had come under an attack of Syrian troops in Idlib, because Turkey had failed to notify Russia about the movements of its troops in advance. The Syrian troops were firing on terrorists retreating to Saraqib.


tass--2020-02-03--One dead, two injured in Texas A&M University-Commerce shooting — TV

MOSCOW , February 3 .
/TASS/ .
At least one person was killed and two were injured in the shooting @ @ @ @ @ Texas A & M University-Commerce on Monday , the ABC television channel reported .
One @ @ @ @ @ , the channel said .
Police officers are patrolling the territory of the campus .
@ @ @ @ @ .

MOSCOW, February 3. /TASS/. At least one person was killed and two were injured in the shooting in the campus of the Texas A&M University-Commerce on Monday, the ABC television channel reported.
One of those injured was hospitalized, the channel said.
Police officers are patrolling the territory of the campus. All lectures have been cancelled.


tass--2020-02-03--White Helmets plotting chemical provocation in Syria’s Idlib — reconciliation center

MOSCOW , February 3 .
/TASS/ .
Two local residents from Syria ’ s Idlib de-escalation zone have warned about a possible provocation with the use of toxic agents plotted by terrorists and the opposition-controlled White Helmets organization , the Russian Center for Reconciliation of the Opposing Parties said on Monday .
`` At 22:15 Moscow time on February 3 , the Russian reconciliation center ’ s hotline received information from two local residents that White Helmets activists backed by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham ( one of the names of the the Jabhat al-Nusra extremist organization , which is outlawed in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up a provocation with the use of toxic agents , '' it said .
For these ends , about 15 White Helmets activists arrived in the settlement of Maaret al-Artik in the Idlib de-escalation zone on February 1 .
`` The provocation involving a crowd of about 200 people is planned to be staged in the settlement of Maaret al-Artik .
These people , including children , are mostly family members of militants who were previously evacuated from southern governorates and have arrived in the Idlib de-escalation zone .
About 400 liters of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Helmets activists in two pickup cars to the location from an underground storage facility , '' it said .
According to the Russian center , the militant group is led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham terrorist Mahi al-Din al-Am , who took part in filming the fake chemical attack in Idlib ’ s Khan Shaykhoun on April 4 , 2017 .
The video of the would-be chemical attack is expected to be posted on White Helmets accounts in social networks to be further used by Western and Arab media .
The Russian side calls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the use of poisonous agents in the Idlib de-escalation zone .
The Russian reconciliation center called on all the parties to drop their criminal designs .
It also called on the Turkish side `` to exert all possible pressure on militants in the Idlib de-escalation zone ’ s sector it controls to prevent the provocation '' with the use of toxic agents .
`` .

MOSCOW, February 3. /TASS/. Two local residents from Syria’s Idlib de-escalation zone have warned about a possible provocation with the use of toxic agents plotted by terrorists and the opposition-controlled White Helmets organization, the Russian Center for Reconciliation of the Opposing Parties said on Monday.
"At 22:15 Moscow time on February 3, the Russian reconciliation center’s hotline received information from two local residents that White Helmets activists backed by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (one of the names of the the Jabhat al-Nusra extremist organization, which is outlawed in Russia - TASS) terrorists are hatching up a provocation with the use of toxic agents," it said.
For these ends, about 15 White Helmets activists arrived in the settlement of Maaret al-Artik in the Idlib de-escalation zone on February 1.
"The provocation involving a crowd of about 200 people is planned to be staged in the settlement of Maaret al-Artik. These people, including children, are mostly family members of militants who were previously evacuated from southern governorates and have arrived in the Idlib de-escalation zone. About 400 liters of chemical solution have been delivered by White Helmets activists in two pickup cars to the location from an underground storage facility," it said.
According to the Russian center, the militant group is led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham terrorist Mahi al-Din al-Am, who took part in filming the fake chemical attack in Idlib’s Khan Shaykhoun on April 4, 2017.
The video of the would-be chemical attack is expected to be posted on White Helmets accounts in social networks to be further used by Western and Arab media.
The Russian side calls on Turkey to exert pressure to prevent the use of poisonous agents in the Idlib de-escalation zone.
The Russian reconciliation center called on all the parties to drop their criminal designs. It also called on the Turkish side "to exert all possible pressure on militants in the Idlib de-escalation zone’s sector it controls to prevent the provocation" with the use of toxic agents.".


tass--2020-02-03--Number of Turkish personnel killed in Idlib rises to eight — Turkish president

KIEV , February 3 .
/TASS/ .
Eight people were killed during an attack on Turkish soldiers in Syria ’ s Idlib governorate , Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday .
On Monday , Erdogan said that Turkish jets and artillery had carried out strikes against 40 targets in Syria ’ s Idlib in response to the shelling of its troops in the area of Saraqib .
According to the NTV news channel , six soldiers were killed and nine others injured when their positions near Saraqib , Idlib province , came under fire .
Ankara argues that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the positions the Turkish forces were taking in advance .
`` As a result of attack by forces of [ Syrian President Bashar Assad ’ s ] regime in Idlib , eight people were killed .
Five of them are servicemen and three are civilian personnel , '' the Turkish leader told reporters in Kiev .
According to Erdogan , `` the events in Idlib are becoming more and more intolerable . ''
He vowed a `` tough retaliation to air and land assaults '' on its forces in Idlib .
The president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parties concerned will stick to their obligations under the Astana and Sochi agreements . ''
Erdogan also claimed that `` approximately a million of Syrians '' left the Idlib governorate and are now heading toward the border with Turkey .
`` Idlib is now home to between 3 and 4 million people .
About one million Syrians have already left it and are now heading toward our border .
It will be difficult for Turkey to accept [ such a great number of ] refugees , '' he said .
He blamed the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who allegedly `` carry out strikes on civilians . ''
Earlier , the Russian center for reconciliation of the opposing parties in Syria said Turkish military personnel had come under an attack of Syrian troops in Idlib , because Turkey had failed to notify Russia about the movements of its troops in advance .
The Syrian troops were firing on terrorists retreating to Saraqib .
Idlib is the only region of Syria that remains under the control of illegal armed formations since 2012 .
In 2017 , militants who refused to surrender in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the de-escalation zone in Idlib .
There are 12 observation posts of the Turkish army in the area .
Syrian government forces began to advance into Idlib on December 19 , 2019 .
The military was able to liberate 46 settlements in southern and eastern Idlib , recovering 320 square kilometers of territory .

KIEV, February 3. /TASS/. Eight people were killed during an attack on Turkish soldiers in Syria’s Idlib governorate, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday.
On Monday, Erdogan said that Turkish jets and artillery had carried out strikes against 40 targets in Syria’s Idlib in response to the shelling of its troops in the area of Saraqib. According to the NTV news channel, six soldiers were killed and nine others injured when their positions near Saraqib, Idlib province, came under fire. Ankara argues that the Syrian army had been notified of the positions the Turkish forces were taking in advance.
"As a result of attack by forces of [Syrian President Bashar Assad’s] regime in Idlib, eight people were killed. Five of them are servicemen and three are civilian personnel," the Turkish leader told reporters in Kiev.
According to Erdogan, "the events in Idlib are becoming more and more intolerable." He vowed a "tough retaliation to air and land assaults" on its forces in Idlib.
The president also expressed hope that "all the parties concerned will stick to their obligations under the Astana and Sochi agreements."
Erdogan also claimed that "approximately a million of Syrians" left the Idlib governorate and are now heading toward the border with Turkey.
"Idlib is now home to between 3 and 4 million people. About one million Syrians have already left it and are now heading toward our border. It will be difficult for Turkey to accept [such a great number of] refugees," he said.
He blamed the situation on the Syrian armed forces, who allegedly "carry out strikes on civilians."
Earlier, the Russian center for reconciliation of the opposing parties in Syria said Turkish military personnel had come under an attack of Syrian troops in Idlib, because Turkey had failed to notify Russia about the movements of its troops in advance. The Syrian troops were firing on terrorists retreating to Saraqib.
Idlib is the only region of Syria that remains under the control of illegal armed formations since 2012. In 2017, militants who refused to surrender in Eastern Ghouta and southern Syrian provinces moved to the de-escalation zone in Idlib. There are 12 observation posts of the Turkish army in the area.
Syrian government forces began to advance into Idlib on December 19, 2019. The military was able to liberate 46 settlements in southern and eastern Idlib, recovering 320 square kilometers of territory.


tass--2020-02-03--French president calls for arms control talks with Russia, US

WARSAW , February 3 .
/TASS/ .
During his visit to Poland on Monday , French President Emmanuel Macron called for holding arms control talks with Russia and the United States .
`` France < … > wants to once again assume responsibility within the framework of a concrete dialogue on issues of arms control , especially on [ weapons ] that can strike Europe , '' the French president said at a joint news conference with his Polish counterpart , Andrzej Duda .
`` We should reverse the current situation , due to which we find ourselves in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to reinstate reliable rules and procedures , and , being of the parties at the negotiating table , to protect [ European Union ] countries . ''
The French leader said that discussions on the issue should be organized regularly , adding that `` Moscow failed to observe the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty in past years , '' and Washington simply terminated it without consulting with European partners .
`` Why should we accept a situation when a treaty on weapons that can strike us is handled by two powers , who either @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it without consulting us , '' Macron added .
Macron said that his country ’ s policy was `` neither pro-Russian , nor anti-Russian , '' but `` pro-European . ''
`` I can see very well that Russia is Europe , although it ’ s not part of the European Union .
But they are our neighbors .
We absolutely don ’ t want a situation in which conflicts or misunderstandings accumulate in our relations with Russia , '' he said .
`` France views security and stability of Europe and European @ @ @ @ @ @ @ On August 2 , 2019 , the United States formally withdrew from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces ( INF ) Treaty , signed by the Soviet Union and the United States on December 8 , 1987 .
It applied to deployed and non-deployed ground-based missiles of intermediate range ( 1,000-5,000 kilometers ) and shorter range ( 500-1,000 kilometers ) .
The US motivated its actions by Russia ’ s alleged refusal to comply with the American ultimatum-like demand that the new 9M729 cruise missiles be eliminated as violating the INF Treaty .
Moscow vehemently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ technical parameters of the 9M729 missiles are within the parameters allowed by the treaty and laid counterclaims to Washington .
Responding to a question from TASS on November 4 , US President Donald Trump said that the United States would like to conclude a new arms control treaty with Russia , China and , possibly , several more states .
Speaking at the World Holocaust Forum in Jerusalem on January 23 , Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested holding a summit of the leaders of Russia , China , the US , France and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Putin said he had already discussed this idea with some colleagues to hear their positive response .
The Russian leader suggested `` holding a meeting of the heads of state from the permanent members of the UN Security Council - Russia , China , the United States , France and Britain - in any country and at any point on the globe the counterparts find convenient .
`` .

WARSAW, February 3. /TASS/. During his visit to Poland on Monday, French President Emmanuel Macron called for holding arms control talks with Russia and the United States.
"France <…> wants to once again assume responsibility within the framework of a concrete dialogue on issues of arms control, especially on [weapons] that can strike Europe," the French president said at a joint news conference with his Polish counterpart, Andrzej Duda. "We should reverse the current situation, due to which we find ourselves in the state of international anomie. We need to reinstate reliable rules and procedures, and, being of the parties at the negotiating table, to protect [European Union] countries."
The French leader said that discussions on the issue should be organized regularly, adding that "Moscow failed to observe the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty in past years," and Washington simply terminated it without consulting with European partners.
"Why should we accept a situation when a treaty on weapons that can strike us is handled by two powers, who either fail to observe it or withdraw from it without consulting us," Macron added.
Macron said that his country’s policy was "neither pro-Russian, nor anti-Russian," but "pro-European."
"I can see very well that Russia is Europe, although it’s not part of the European Union. But they are our neighbors. We absolutely don’t want a situation in which conflicts or misunderstandings accumulate in our relations with Russia," he said. "France views security and stability of Europe and European partners as its absolute priority."
Emerging opportunities
On August 2, 2019, the United States formally withdrew from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, signed by the Soviet Union and the United States on December 8, 1987. It applied to deployed and non-deployed ground-based missiles of intermediate range (1,000-5,000 kilometers) and shorter range (500-1,000 kilometers). The US motivated its actions by Russia’s alleged refusal to comply with the American ultimatum-like demand that the new 9M729 cruise missiles be eliminated as violating the INF Treaty. Moscow vehemently dismissed all accusations, saying that the technical parameters of the 9M729 missiles are within the parameters allowed by the treaty and laid counterclaims to Washington.
Responding to a question from TASS on November 4, US President Donald Trump said that the United States would like to conclude a new arms control treaty with Russia, China and, possibly, several more states.
Speaking at the World Holocaust Forum in Jerusalem on January 23, Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested holding a summit of the leaders of Russia, China, the US, France and Britain in 2020 to discuss world affairs. Putin said he had already discussed this idea with some colleagues to hear their positive response. The Russian leader suggested "holding a meeting of the heads of state from the permanent members of the UN Security Council - Russia, China, the United States, France and Britain - in any country and at any point on the globe the counterparts find convenient.".


tass--2020-02-03--Russian, Kuwaiti top diplomats discuss trade dynamics

MOSCOW , February 3 .
/TASS/ .
Trade dynamics , economic ties and humanitarian exchanges were in focus of a @ @ @ @ @ Kuwaiti Foreign Ministers , Sergey Lavrov and Ahmed Nasser al-Sabah , the Russian foreign ministry @ @ @ @ @ The sides reiterated Moscow ’ s and Kuwait City ’ s plans to ensure sustainable @ @ @ @ @ invigoration of economic ties and humanitarian exchanges , including settling all problems of the bilateral @ @ @ @ @ said .
`` The two top diplomats highly assessed their countries ’ cooperation over the @ @ @ @ @ non-permanent membership in the United Nations Security Council in 2018-2019 and stressed the importance of @ @ @ @ @ on key regional and international problems , '' the ministry noted .

MOSCOW, February 3. /TASS/. Trade dynamics, economic ties and humanitarian exchanges were in focus of a telephone conversation between Russian and Kuwaiti Foreign Ministers, Sergey Lavrov and Ahmed Nasser al-Sabah, the Russian foreign ministry said on Monday.
"The sides reiterated Moscow’s and Kuwait City’s plans to ensure sustainable positive trade dynamics, further invigoration of economic ties and humanitarian exchanges, including settling all problems of the bilateral agenda," the ministry said.
"The two top diplomats highly assessed their countries’ cooperation over the period of Kuwait’s non-permanent membership in the United Nations Security Council in 2018-2019 and stressed the importance of further political and diplomatic coordination on key regional and international problems," the ministry noted.


tass--2020-02-03--Russia, Saudi Arabia confirm readiness to cooperate in OPEC+ format

MOSCOW , February 3 .
/TASS/ .
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud discussed @ @ @ @ @ global hydrocarbons market and confirmed readiness to coordinate activities in the OPEC+ format to support @ @ @ @ @ market , the Kremlin ’ s press service says on Monday .
`` A telephone @ @ @ @ @ Putin and Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud took place on the initiative of @ @ @ @ @ current situation on the global hydrocarbons market was thoroughly discussed .
The readiness to continue @ @ @ @ @ OPEC+ format for support of the global oil market stability was affirmed from both sides @ @ @ @ @ says .
The parties agreed to continue contacts at different levels , the Kremlin said @

MOSCOW, February 3. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud discussed the current situation on the global hydrocarbons market and confirmed readiness to coordinate activities in the OPEC+ format to support stability of the global oil market, the Kremlin’s press service says on Monday.
"A telephone conversation between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud took place on the initiative of the Saudi side. The current situation on the global hydrocarbons market was thoroughly discussed. The readiness to continue coordination of activities in the OPEC+ format for support of the global oil market stability was affirmed from both sides," the press service says.
The parties agreed to continue contacts at different levels, the Kremlin said.


tass--2020-02-03--Russian State Duma may hold parliamentary hearing on coronavirus on Feb 17

`` We have agreed to hold a parliamentary hearing on this issue , '' Volodin said .
`` We will try our best to hold the hearing on February 17 . ''
MOSCOW , February 3 .
/TASS/ .
The Russian State Duma ( lower house ) may hold a parliamentary hearing on the outbreak of coronavirus on February 17 , State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin told reporters on Monday .
The hearing is organized by the Russian State Duma Committee on Health Protection .
`` This is an issue on our agenda ; the committee on health protection is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think it would be right to discuss this issue , especially considering the extent to which the public is afraid of this situation .
People do not know how to behave and what to do , '' Volodin noted .
The speaker said that experts would be invited to the hearing to answer the burning questions related to the virus `` in order to calm people down somehow and develop solutions . ''
The speaker pointed out that the situation is alarming ; however , the issue is under the control of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2019 , Chinese authorities informed the World Health Organization ( WHO ) about an outbreak of a novel coronavirus ( 2019-nCoV ) in the city of Wuhan - a large trade and industrial center in central China populated by 11 million people .
The city has since been closed off for entry and exit .
Foreign states are evacuating their citizens from Wuhan and the surrounding Hubei province .
The number of people infected with 2019-nCoV in China has exceeded 17,000 , with 361 recorded deaths .
On Sunday , the Philippines recorded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of China .
Cases of coronavirus have been detected in 23 countries outside of China , including Russia .
On January 30 , WHO declared an international public health emergency over the outbreak of 2019-nCoV .

"We have agreed to hold a parliamentary hearing on this issue," Volodin said. "We will try our best to hold the hearing on February 17."
The hearing is organized by the Russian State Duma Committee on Health Protection. "This is an issue on our agenda; the committee on health protection is monitoring it. <…> We think it would be right to discuss this issue, especially considering the extent to which the public is afraid of this situation. People do not know how to behave and what to do," Volodin noted.
The speaker said that experts would be invited to the hearing to answer the burning questions related to the virus "in order to calm people down somehow and develop solutions." The speaker pointed out that the situation is alarming; however, the issue is under the control of the Russian government.
On December 31, 2019, Chinese authorities informed the World Health Organization (WHO) about an outbreak of a novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in the city of Wuhan - a large trade and industrial center in central China populated by 11 million people. The city has since been closed off for entry and exit. Foreign states are evacuating their citizens from Wuhan and the surrounding Hubei province.
The number of people infected with 2019-nCoV in China has exceeded 17,000, with 361 recorded deaths. On Sunday, the Philippines recorded the first death from novel coronavirus outside of China.
Cases of coronavirus have been detected in 23 countries outside of China, including Russia. On January 30, WHO declared an international public health emergency over the outbreak of 2019-nCoV.


tass--2020-02-03--Unidentified drone downed at distance from Russian Hmeymim base in Syria

MOSCOW , February 3 .
/TASS/ .
An unidentified small drone approaching Russia ’ s air base at Syria ’ s Hmeymim from the Mediterranean was downed by the base ’ s Pantsyr missile defense system , the Russian foreign ministry said on Monday .
According to the ministry , an unidentified small unmanned aerial vehicle was stopped by the airbase ’ s radars when it was approaching the Russian base from the northeastern part of the Mediterranean Sea after dark .
`` The target was destroyed by the Panstyr-S missiles at a distance from the airbase .
No one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ done , '' the ministry said , adding that the airbase is operating routinely .
The previous drone attack on the Hmeymim base was staged by militants on January 19 .
The air targets were downed at a safe distance from the base .
Currently , two Pantsyr systems are deployed in Syria - the one at the Hmeymim base and the other one used by the Syrian government army .
The Pantsyr-S1 ( NATO reporting name : SA-22 Greyhound ) is a ground-based self-propelled surface-to-air missile/gun system designated to shield military and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ systems , from all modern and future air attack weapons .
The Pantsyr consists of 12 surface-to-air missiles ( six missiles in two transport and launch containers each ) .
The Pantsyr is also armed with two 30mm guns , each of which is capable of firing up to 40 rounds per second .
Chief Designer for Air Defense Systems at the Shipunov Design Bureau of Instrument-Making ( part of High Precision Systems Company within the state hi-tech corporation Rostec ) Valery Slugin told TASS earlier that the Russian Pantsyr-S system had downed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the world , including Syria , over the period of their operation .

MOSCOW, February 3. /TASS/. An unidentified small drone approaching Russia’s air base at Syria’s Hmeymim from the Mediterranean was downed by the base’s Pantsyr missile defense system, the Russian foreign ministry said on Monday.
According to the ministry, an unidentified small unmanned aerial vehicle was stopped by the airbase’s radars when it was approaching the Russian base from the northeastern part of the Mediterranean Sea after dark.
"The target was destroyed by the Panstyr-S missiles at a distance from the airbase. No one was hurt. No material damage was done," the ministry said, adding that the airbase is operating routinely.
The previous drone attack on the Hmeymim base was staged by militants on January 19. The air targets were downed at a safe distance from the base.
Currently, two Pantsyr systems are deployed in Syria - the one at the Hmeymim base and the other one used by the Syrian government army.
The Pantsyr-S1 (NATO reporting name: SA-22 Greyhound) is a ground-based self-propelled surface-to-air missile/gun system designated to shield military and civilian facilities, including long-range air defense systems, from all modern and future air attack weapons. The Pantsyr consists of 12 surface-to-air missiles (six missiles in two transport and launch containers each).
The Pantsyr is also armed with two 30mm guns, each of which is capable of firing up to 40 rounds per second.
Chief Designer for Air Defense Systems at the Shipunov Design Bureau of Instrument-Making (part of High Precision Systems Company within the state hi-tech corporation Rostec) Valery Slugin told TASS earlier that the Russian Pantsyr-S system had downed about 100 drones in various parts of the world, including Syria, over the period of their operation.


tass--2020-02-03--Russian PM to present report on government work before parliament on April 15

MOSCOW , February 3 .
/TASS/ .
Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin will present a report on the outcomes of @ @ @ @ @ before the Russian State Duma ( lower house of parliament ) on April 15 , @ @ @ @ @ told reporters on Monday .
`` The date is set for April 15 , '' @ @ @ @ @ added that the procedure of the address would be determined later .
The Russian State @ @ @ @ @ informed that parliamentary factions would send their questions to a special committee by March 11 @ @ @ @ @ at the Duma Council on March 16 during the confirmation of the procedure .

MOSCOW, February 3. /TASS/. Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin will present a report on the outcomes of the government’s work before the Russian State Duma (lower house of parliament) on April 15, State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin told reporters on Monday.
"The date is set for April 15," he said. The speaker added that the procedure of the address would be determined later.
The Russian State Duma’s press service informed that parliamentary factions would send their questions to a special committee by March 11, which will be presented at the Duma Council on March 16 during the confirmation of the procedure.


tass--2020-02-03--Russia, ASEAN states to draft cooperation plan for 2020 onwards

MOSCOW , February 3 .
/TASS/ .
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and ASEAN ( Association of Southeast Asian Nations ) Secretary General Lim Jock Hoi have agreed to form a plan to develop cooperation between Russia and ASEAN after 2020 , also discussing steps to strengthen trade-economic and investment ties , the Russian Foreign Ministry informed on Monday on the outcomes of the talks in Moscow .
`` An agreement to prepare a comprehensive package of measures to develop Russia-ASEAN cooperation in the period after 2020 was reached , '' the ministry informed .
`` Concrete steps to strengthen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a special focus on cooperation in the sphere of high technology and innovation , energy , finance , emergency response and culture .
Expansion of contacts between business and expert circles was also discussed . ''
`` Practical aspects of establishing cooperation between ASEAN , the Eurasian Economic Union and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization ( SCO ) in the context of forming a Greater Eurasian Partnership and exchanging regional integration experience have been discussed .
Namely , [ Lavrov and Lim Jock Hoi ] discussed the activation of contacts between the ASEAN Secretariat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ SCO Secretariat , '' the ministry noted .
The Russian Foreign Ministry stressed the importance of expanding foreign policy coordination within key multilateral platforms and in the sphere of international security .
The ministry added that the sides had discussed international issues with a special focus on the prospects of establishing a balanced system of intergovernmental relations in the Asia-Pacific that would ensure stable security and sustainable development of the region ’ s states .
`` They also discussed current regional issues , '' the Russian diplomats informed .

MOSCOW, February 3. /TASS/. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Secretary General Lim Jock Hoi have agreed to form a plan to develop cooperation between Russia and ASEAN after 2020, also discussing steps to strengthen trade-economic and investment ties, the Russian Foreign Ministry informed on Monday on the outcomes of the talks in Moscow.
"An agreement to prepare a comprehensive package of measures to develop Russia-ASEAN cooperation in the period after 2020 was reached," the ministry informed. "Concrete steps to strengthen trade-economic and investment ties were discussed with a special focus on cooperation in the sphere of high technology and innovation, energy, finance, emergency response and culture. Expansion of contacts between business and expert circles was also discussed."
"Practical aspects of establishing cooperation between ASEAN, the Eurasian Economic Union and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in the context of forming a Greater Eurasian Partnership and exchanging regional integration experience have been discussed. Namely, [Lavrov and Lim Jock Hoi] discussed the activation of contacts between the ASEAN Secretariat, the Eurasian Economic Commission and the SCO Secretariat," the ministry noted.
The Russian Foreign Ministry stressed the importance of expanding foreign policy coordination within key multilateral platforms and in the sphere of international security.
The ministry added that the sides had discussed international issues with a special focus on the prospects of establishing a balanced system of intergovernmental relations in the Asia-Pacific that would ensure stable security and sustainable development of the region’s states. "They also discussed current regional issues," the Russian diplomats informed.


tass--2020-02-03--Russia taking all necessary prophylactic measures against coronavirus, official says

`` The Prime Minister has signed a national plan aimed to prevent the spread of coronavirus on Russian territory .
All government bodies are ready to provide a prompt response to this situation .
< … > The majority of Russian regions have approved the corresponding plans , '' she said .
MOSCOW , February 3 .
/TASS/ .
Russian regional authorities are taking all necessary measures to prevent the spread of a new type of coronavirus , Russian Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova told reporters on Monday .
Golikova leads the coronavirus prevention task force in Russia .
Golikova @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to stock up on necessary medicine , means of individual protection and disinfectants , as well as to ensure the corresponding financing .
`` Medical organizations need to be ready to receive patients and to have the necessary equipment .
All governors and responsible persons have confirmed that they are ready .
We are dealing with the regions that declared a shortage of certain things or that need to organize deliveries of masks or medicine , '' the deputy PM said .
On December 31 , 2019 , Chinese authorities informed the World @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outbreak of a novel coronavirus ( 2019-nCoV ) in the city of Wuhan - a large trade and industrial center in central China populated by 11 million people .
The city has since been closed off for entry and exit .
Foreign states are evacuating their citizens from Wuhan and the surrounding Hubei province .
The number of people infected with 2019-nCoV in China has exceeded 17,000 , with 361 recorded deaths .
On Sunday , the Philippines recorded the first death from novel coronavirus outside of China .
Cases of coronavirus have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ China , including Russia .
On January 30 , WHO declared an international public health emergency over the outbreak of 2019-nCoV .

"The Prime Minister has signed a national plan aimed to prevent the spread of coronavirus on Russian territory. All government bodies are ready to provide a prompt response to this situation. <…> The majority of Russian regions have approved the corresponding plans," she said.
MOSCOW, February 3. /TASS/. Russian regional authorities are taking all necessary measures to prevent the spread of a new type of coronavirus, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova told reporters on Monday. Golikova leads the coronavirus prevention task force in Russia.
Golikova added that Russian regions are taking measures to stock up on necessary medicine, means of individual protection and disinfectants, as well as to ensure the corresponding financing. "Medical organizations need to be ready to receive patients and to have the necessary equipment. All governors and responsible persons have confirmed that they are ready. We are dealing with the regions that declared a shortage of certain things or that need to organize deliveries of masks or medicine," the deputy PM said.
About the coronavirus
On December 31, 2019, Chinese authorities informed the World Health Organization (WHO) about an outbreak of a novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in the city of Wuhan - a large trade and industrial center in central China populated by 11 million people. The city has since been closed off for entry and exit. Foreign states are evacuating their citizens from Wuhan and the surrounding Hubei province.
The number of people infected with 2019-nCoV in China has exceeded 17,000, with 361 recorded deaths. On Sunday, the Philippines recorded the first death from novel coronavirus outside of China.
Cases of coronavirus have been detected in 23 countries outside of China, including Russia. On January 30, WHO declared an international public health emergency over the outbreak of 2019-nCoV.


tass--2020-02-03--Idlib settlement may necessitate new talks of Astana trio, says expert

Turkey should have `` ensured the withdrawal of radical Islamist groups and their abandoning heavy weapons , but this has not been done , '' the expert noted .
`` Moreover , some of these armed Islamist groups are supported by Turkey .
As a result , their radical part has practically continued combat operations and shelling of settlements , including neighborhoods of Aleppo and positions of the Syrian government forces , '' he explained .
MOSCOW , February 3 .
/TASS/ .
De-escalation of tensions around Syria ’ s Idlib Governorate can be achieved through new agreements from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russia , Iran and Turkey ) , Boris Dolgov , senior researcher from the Center for Arab and Islamic Studies at the Russian Academy of Sciences ’ Institute of Oriental Studies , told TASS on Monday .
`` Now , in order to scale down the standoff between the Turkish and Syrian armies , and have Turkey ’ s compliance with its commitments , talks are needed , new agreements between Turkey , Russia and Iran , '' the analyst said .
According to him , Russia plays a major role in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Russia ’ s role is the biggest , since Russia and Turkey signed an agreement on Idlib , '' he went on to say .
`` Russia must make its voice heard , and possibly urge Turkey to comply with its commitments , revise its relations with Islamist groups that operate in Idlib , violating all agreements and continuing provcative shelling of civilian settlements , '' Dolgov said .
`` Russia is the main actor in the Syrian settlement , '' he stressed .
According to Turkey ’ s Defense Ministry , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ injured on Monday when their positions near Saraqib , Idlib province , came under fire .
Ankara argues that the Syrian army was responsible , although it had been notified of the positions the Turkish forces were taking in advance .
Russia ’ s Center for Reconciliation of the Opposing Parties in Syria said in a news release that Turkish troops last night came under an attack of Syrian government forces in Idlib , which were conducting fire against terrorists , because Turkey had failed to notify Russia about the movements of its @ @

Turkey should have "ensured the withdrawal of radical Islamist groups and their abandoning heavy weapons, but this has not been done," the expert noted. "Moreover, some of these armed Islamist groups are supported by Turkey. As a result, their radical part has practically continued combat operations and shelling of settlements, including neighborhoods of Aleppo and positions of the Syrian government forces," he explained.
MOSCOW, February 3. /TASS/. De-escalation of tensions around Syria’s Idlib Governorate can be achieved through new agreements from the countries guarantors of the Astana process (Russia, Iran and Turkey), Boris Dolgov, senior researcher from the Center for Arab and Islamic Studies at the Russian Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Oriental Studies, told TASS on Monday.
"Now, in order to scale down the standoff between the Turkish and Syrian armies, and have Turkey’s compliance with its commitments, talks are needed, new agreements between Turkey, Russia and Iran," the analyst said.
According to him, Russia plays a major role in the settlement in Idlib. "Of course, Russia’s role is the biggest, since Russia and Turkey signed an agreement on Idlib," he went on to say. "Russia must make its voice heard, and possibly urge Turkey to comply with its commitments, revise its relations with Islamist groups that operate in Idlib, violating all agreements and continuing provcative shelling of civilian settlements," Dolgov said.
"Russia is the main actor in the Syrian settlement," he stressed.
According to Turkey’s Defense Ministry, six soldiers were killed and nine others injured on Monday when their positions near Saraqib, Idlib province, came under fire. Ankara argues that the Syrian army was responsible, although it had been notified of the positions the Turkish forces were taking in advance.
Russia’s Center for Reconciliation of the Opposing Parties in Syria said in a news release that Turkish troops last night came under an attack of Syrian government forces in Idlib, which were conducting fire against terrorists, because Turkey had failed to notify Russia about the movements of its forces.