tass--2020-04-17--Press review: Putin postpones Victory Day parade and South Korea holds election

Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced the decision to put off the anticipated parade in Moscow ’ s Red Square to mark the 75th anniversary of the Victory over Nazism , Kommersant writes .
The head of state emphasized that the risks associated with the coronavirus epidemic were still extremely high .
He noted though that 2020 had been declared the Year of Memory and Glory in Russia and vowed that all events planned for May 9 would be held later this year .
At a video conference meeting with Russia ’ s Security Council on Thursday , the president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Great Patriotic War against Nazi Germany and the current situation of Russia fighting the spread of coronavirus , stressing that in those days people fought against Nazism for the sake of their survival .
Earlier in the day , Speaker of the Russian Federation Council ( upper house ) Valentina Matviyenko said that the date for the Victory Parade would depend on how the coronavirus situation in the country unfolded .
She assured that the parade would be held this year and promised that it would be grandiose .
Meanwhile , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Center for Political Technologies , pointed to the change in national priorities .
Despite the importance of the Victory Day Parade for the ideological doctrine promoted by the authorities , the need to take care of people ’ s lives and health comes first .
According to the expert , the decision to put off the parade was a rational step , and one should not overestimate its potential demoralizing effect on public opinion .
`` People understand that the congestion of participants in the parade and spectators in the center of Moscow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ epidemic , '' the paper quotes him as saying .
While many countries had to cancel or postpone elections over the coronavirus outbreak , South Korea was the first country to hold a national vote as scheduled , Izvestia writes .
The party of South Korean President Moon Jae-in won a landslide victory .
The turnout exceeded 66 % , which was the highest figure since 1992 .
Voters thus appreciated the government ’ s effective response to the spread of the epidemic , believing that it had compensated for some flaws in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people elected lawmakers , the vote was rather seen as a kind of referendum on the political fate of President Moon Jae-in .
If the election had been held a few months earlier , his Democratic Party could have lost its parliamentary majority because of the economic situation in the country , corruption scandals surrounding his inner circle and the deadlocked intra-Korean peace process .
While the fight against the pandemic in many countries was ineffective and undermined people ’ s trust in their authorities , in South Korea , on the contrary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That had a favorable effect on the president ’ s approval rating .
According to recent surveys , by April , his approval rate had grown to 54-57 % , the highest in the past 18 months .
`` Coronavirus has become a global problem , and everyone compared how officials in various countries responded to that threat .
In South Korea , the healthcare system was able to prepare for the epidemic very quickly .
That made up for those problems and concerns , which existed earlier , '' Lyudmila Zakharova , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Academy of Sciences ’ Institute for Far Eastern Studies , told the paper .
Nezavisimaya Gazeta : US braces for new financial war against China American officials argue that China should pay for throwing the world into the worst recession in 100 years .
In order to punish Beijing , some US senators suggested writing off part of America ’ s debt that the People ’ s Bank of China holds in reserve .
Carrying out that threat could result in a global financial crisis , Nezavisimaya Gazeta writes .
US Secretary of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interview that the virus had originated in China ’ s Wuhan and urged Beijing to divulge information about the spread of COVID-19 .
US President Donald Trump likewise insisted that the Chinese government must `` tell the truth '' about the pandemic .
In response , Beijing has vehemently rejected these accusations .
However , experts have dismissed the senators ’ proposal as short-sighted .
`` The United States has accumulated national debt that can no longer be written off , '' the paper quotes Head of AMarkets Analytical Department Artem Deev as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or any other country are always a political component in an economic struggle .
After the epidemic , China ’ s economy had shed all its growth amassed over the past 20 years , and therefore the United States will use any excuse to deal the final blow to its rival , '' the expert stressed .
A selective default on America ’ s debt obligations is contrary to US law and could deprive US public debt of its largest buyer and question the reliability of US government bonds as an investment tool @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at BCS Premier , warned .
`` The trade war between the United States and China is not over , and the US may well churn out rhetoric , pinning the liability on China for spreading COVID-19 in the US and around the world , '' KRK Group ’ s Nikita Ryabinin noted .
The World Health Organization ( WHO ) is providing assistance to Syria ’ s northwestern territories , which are not controlled by Damascus .
The Syrian government hopes that the support will be extended to the entire territory of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Russia Riad Haddad told Izvestia .
`` It is worth noting that we have high hopes that the organization will play an active role in battling this pandemic throughout the entire territory of the country , and stop politicizing the provision of medical assistance to Syria and yielding to pressure from the West , '' the diplomat stressed .
He noted that unilateral actions by the United States and the European Union had impeded the delivery of medical equipment and medications to fight COVID-19 .
The WHO earlier rejected any accusations of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tried to furnish assistance to all countries , regardless of their political systems .
Meanwhile , Russia reiterated its support for the global health body .
Moscow has fully paid its contributions , about $ 11.5 mln , thus honoring its financial commitments to the WHO , Russia ’ s Permanent Representative to the UN Office and Other International Organizations in Geneva Gennady Gatilov told the paper .
He noted that in April , the Russian government decided to earmark a voluntary contribution ( $ 1 mln ) to the WHO budget as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at improving the epidemiological situation in Eastern Europe and Central Asia .
`` In addition to the pandemic , we have our priorities in the fight against non-communicable diseases and tuberculosis .
This year , $ 8.2 mln and $ 4.8 mln respectively will be earmarked for these projects .
We do not scale back our support for the WHO and [ we ] will maintain it in the future .
We have a rather long and successful history of cooperation .
Of course , we will continue to support it , both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Nezavisimaya Gazeta : China to continue building up its military capability The coronavirus pandemic will not compel Beijing to abandon its overseas military projects in the near future .
However , these activities will intensify after 2030 , Nezavisimaya Gazeta writes citing data provided by Jane ’ s .
According to Jane ’ s experts , during this decade , China will continue to use its military and economic resources abroad , in particular , in order to monitor US activities in the Middle East and Africa .
After 2030 , China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bases abroad , they stressed .
So far , China has shown that the coronavirus pandemic had not affected its security policy .
On April 14 , China ’ s Navy reported that its Liaoning aircraft carrier was conducting drills in the South China Sea .
It stressed that the operation was carried out as part of its usual actions and complied with international laws and standards .
Nevertheless , this may indicate China ’ s intention to beef up its presence in the region , where US warships appear pretty often .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ decrease in the level of US-Chinese relations amidst the pandemic .
`` The COVID-19 pandemic will inevitably result in the deterioration of relations between the United States and China , which have been far from perfect recently , '' military expert Yuri Lyamin told the paper .
`` Given the obvious economic and political fallout from the pandemic around the world , I would refrain from making such far-reaching forecasts .
Against the backdrop of the inevitable growth of US-Chinese contradictions and instability in the world , Beijing could begin to beef up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2030 , '' he said .
TASS is not responsible for the material quoted in these press reviews .

Kommersant: Putin postpones Victory Day parade
Read also Putin postpones preparations for May 9 parade, Immortal Regiment march
Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced the decision to put off the anticipated parade in Moscow’s Red Square to mark the 75th anniversary of the Victory over Nazism, Kommersant writes. The head of state emphasized that the risks associated with the coronavirus epidemic were still extremely high. He noted though that 2020 had been declared the Year of Memory and Glory in Russia and vowed that all events planned for May 9 would be held later this year. At a video conference meeting with Russia’s Security Council on Thursday, the president drew a parallel between the Soviet Union’s Great Patriotic War against Nazi Germany and the current situation of Russia fighting the spread of coronavirus, stressing that in those days people fought against Nazism for the sake of their survival. Earlier in the day, Speaker of the Russian Federation Council (upper house) Valentina Matviyenko said that the date for the Victory Parade would depend on how the coronavirus situation in the country unfolded. She assured that the parade would be held this year and promised that it would be grandiose. Meanwhile, Alexei Makarkin, Deputy Head of the Center for Political Technologies, pointed to the change in national priorities. Despite the importance of the Victory Day Parade for the ideological doctrine promoted by the authorities, the need to take care of people’s lives and health comes first. According to the expert, the decision to put off the parade was a rational step, and one should not overestimate its potential demoralizing effect on public opinion. "People understand that the congestion of participants in the parade and spectators in the center of Moscow might contribute to the widening of the epidemic," the paper quotes him as saying. Izvestia: South Korea holds parliamentary election amid coronavirus pandemic
Read also South Korea registers 22 new coronavirus cases in past day
While many countries had to cancel or postpone elections over the coronavirus outbreak, South Korea was the first country to hold a national vote as scheduled, Izvestia writes. The party of South Korean President Moon Jae-in won a landslide victory. The turnout exceeded 66%, which was the highest figure since 1992. Voters thus appreciated the government’s effective response to the spread of the epidemic, believing that it had compensated for some flaws in its economic and foreign policy. Although people elected lawmakers, the vote was rather seen as a kind of referendum on the political fate of President Moon Jae-in. If the election had been held a few months earlier, his Democratic Party could have lost its parliamentary majority because of the economic situation in the country, corruption scandals surrounding his inner circle and the deadlocked intra-Korean peace process. While the fight against the pandemic in many countries was ineffective and undermined people’s trust in their authorities, in South Korea, on the contrary, the anti-coronavirus efforts were successful. That had a favorable effect on the president’s approval rating. According to recent surveys, by April, his approval rate had grown to 54-57%, the highest in the past 18 months. "Coronavirus has become a global problem, and everyone compared how officials in various countries responded to that threat. In South Korea, the healthcare system was able to prepare for the epidemic very quickly. That made up for those problems and concerns, which existed earlier," Lyudmila Zakharova, an expert on Korea at the Russian Academy of Sciences’ Institute for Far Eastern Studies, told the paper. Nezavisimaya Gazeta: US braces for new financial war against China
American officials argue that China should pay for throwing the world into the worst recession in 100 years. In order to punish Beijing, some US senators suggested writing off part of America’s debt that the People’s Bank of China holds in reserve. Carrying out that threat could result in a global financial crisis, Nezavisimaya Gazeta writes. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a recent interview that the virus had originated in China’s Wuhan and urged Beijing to divulge information about the spread of COVID-19. US President Donald Trump likewise insisted that the Chinese government must "tell the truth" about the pandemic. In response, Beijing has vehemently rejected these accusations. However, experts have dismissed the senators’ proposal as short-sighted. "The United States has accumulated national debt that can no longer be written off," the paper quotes Head of AMarkets Analytical Department Artem Deev as saying. "All accusations against China or any other country are always a political component in an economic struggle. After the epidemic, China’s economy had shed all its growth amassed over the past 20 years, and therefore the United States will use any excuse to deal the final blow to its rival," the expert stressed. A selective default on America’s debt obligations is contrary to US law and could deprive US public debt of its largest buyer and question the reliability of US government bonds as an investment tool, Sergei Suverov, a senior analyst at BCS Premier, warned. "The trade war between the United States and China is not over, and the US may well churn out rhetoric, pinning the liability on China for spreading COVID-19 in the US and around the world," KRK Group’s Nikita Ryabinin noted. Izvestia: Damascus cautions against politicizing aid to Syria amid pandemic
The World Health Organization (WHO) is providing assistance to Syria’s northwestern territories, which are not controlled by Damascus. The Syrian government hopes that the support will be extended to the entire territory of the country, Syria’s Ambassador to Russia Riad Haddad told Izvestia. "It is worth noting that we have high hopes that the organization will play an active role in battling this pandemic throughout the entire territory of the country, and stop politicizing the provision of medical assistance to Syria and yielding to pressure from the West," the diplomat stressed. He noted that unilateral actions by the United States and the European Union had impeded the delivery of medical equipment and medications to fight COVID-19. The WHO earlier rejected any accusations of ideological bias and stressed that the organization tried to furnish assistance to all countries, regardless of their political systems. Meanwhile, Russia reiterated its support for the global health body. Moscow has fully paid its contributions, about $11.5 mln, thus honoring its financial commitments to the WHO, Russia’s Permanent Representative to the UN Office and Other International Organizations in Geneva Gennady Gatilov told the paper. He noted that in April, the Russian government decided to earmark a voluntary contribution ($1 mln) to the WHO budget as part of the technical assistance project aimed at improving the epidemiological situation in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. "In addition to the pandemic, we have our priorities in the fight against non-communicable diseases and tuberculosis. This year, $8.2 mln and $4.8 mln respectively will be earmarked for these projects. We do not scale back our support for the WHO and [we] will maintain it in the future. We have a rather long and successful history of cooperation. Of course, we will continue to support it, both politically and financially," he assured. Nezavisimaya Gazeta: China to continue building up its military capability
Read also Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin held telephone conversation


tass--2020-04-17--WHO confirms global coronavirus case count exceeds 2 million

GENEVA , April 17 .
/TASS/ .
Number of coronavirus cases , confirmed by the World Health Organization , across @ @ @ @ @ according to data , published at the WHO website .
Over 76,000 new coronavirus cases @ @ @ @ @ past day — WHO According to the website , by April 17 , 2,034,802 confirmed @ @ @ @ @ registered globally .
In late December 2019 , Chinese officials notified the World Health Organization @ @ @ @ @ outbreak of a previously unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan , in central China @ @ @ @ @ 2020 , the WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic .

GENEVA, April 17. /TASS/. Number of coronavirus cases, confirmed by the World Health Organization, across the world exceeded 2,000,000, according to data, published at the WHO website.
Over 76,000 new coronavirus cases confirmed in the world in past day — WHO
According to the website, by April 17, 2,034,802 confirmed cases and 135,163 fatalities were registered globally.
In late December 2019, Chinese officials notified the World Health Organization (WHO) about the outbreak of a previously unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan, in central China. On March 11, 2020, the WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic.


tass--2020-04-17--Russia ranks 11th in the world for COVID-19 cases

MOSCOW , April 17 .
/TASS/ .
Russia ranks 11th in the world for confirmed COVID-19 cases , TASS reports based on the official data provided by the governments of countries with confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus , as well as media and expert estimations .
Before Friday , it used to rank 14th .
According to the anti-coronavirus crisis center , there are 32,008 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Russia , which is higher than the numbers reported by Brazil , the Netherlands and Canada .
In late December 2019 , Chinese officials notified the World Health Organization @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a previously unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan , in central China .
Since then , cases of the novel coronavirus — named COVID-19 by the WHO — have been reported in every corner of the globe , including Russia .
On March 11 , 2020 , the WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic .
According to the latest statistics , over 2,190,000 people have been infected worldwide and more than 147,000 deaths have been reported .
In addition , so far , over 553,000 individuals have recovered from the illness @ @ @ @

MOSCOW, April 17. /TASS/. Russia ranks 11th in the world for confirmed COVID-19 cases, TASS reports based on the official data provided by the governments of countries with confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus, as well as media and expert estimations. Before Friday, it used to rank 14th.
According to the anti-coronavirus crisis center, there are 32,008 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Russia, which is higher than the numbers reported by Brazil, the Netherlands and Canada.
In late December 2019, Chinese officials notified the World Health Organization (WHO) about the outbreak of a previously unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan, in central China. Since then, cases of the novel coronavirus — named COVID-19 by the WHO — have been reported in every corner of the globe, including Russia.
On March 11, 2020, the WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic. According to the latest statistics, over 2,190,000 people have been infected worldwide and more than 147,000 deaths have been reported. In addition, so far, over 553,000 individuals have recovered from the illness across the globe.


tass--2020-04-17--New coronavirus cases in St. Petersburg almost triple over past day

MOSCOW , April 17 .
/TASS/ .
The number of new coronavirus cases identified in St. Petersburg over the past twenty-four hours has risen almost threefold from Thursday to 424 , according to the data reported by Russia ’ s anti-coronavirus crisis center on Friday .
New coronavirus cases identified in St. Petersburg on Thursday stood at 154 .
Therefore , the total number of coronavirus cases in St. Petersburg has exceeded 1,500 people .
In late December 2019 , Chinese officials notified the World Health Organization ( WHO ) about the outbreak of a previously unknown pneumonia in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Since then , cases of the novel coronavirus - named COVID-19 by the WHO - have been reported in every corner of the globe , including Russia .
On March 11 , 2020 , the WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic .
According to the latest statistics , over 2,190,000 people have been infected worldwide and more than 147,000 deaths have been reported .
In addition , so far , over 553,000 individuals have recovered from the illness across the globe .
To date , a total of 32,008 coronavirus cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2,590 patients having recovered from the virus .
Russia ’ s latest data indicates 273 fatalities nationwide .
Earlier , the Russian government set up an Internet hotline to keep the public updated on the coronavirus situation .

MOSCOW, April 17. /TASS/. The number of new coronavirus cases identified in St. Petersburg over the past twenty-four hours has risen almost threefold from Thursday to 424, according to the data reported by Russia’s anti-coronavirus crisis center on Friday.
New coronavirus cases identified in St. Petersburg on Thursday stood at 154.
Therefore, the total number of coronavirus cases in St. Petersburg has exceeded 1,500 people.
In late December 2019, Chinese officials notified the World Health Organization (WHO) about the outbreak of a previously unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan, in central China. Since then, cases of the novel coronavirus - named COVID-19 by the WHO - have been reported in every corner of the globe, including Russia.
On March 11, 2020, the WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic. According to the latest statistics, over 2,190,000 people have been infected worldwide and more than 147,000 deaths have been reported. In addition, so far, over 553,000 individuals have recovered from the illness across the globe.
To date, a total of 32,008 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Russia, with 2,590 patients having recovered from the virus. Russia’s latest data indicates 273 fatalities nationwide. Earlier, the Russian government set up an Internet hotline to keep the public updated on the coronavirus situation.


tass--2020-04-17--Aeroflot suspends sales of tickets for international flights

MOSCOW , April 17 .
/TASS/ .
Aeroflot has suspended sales of tickets for international flights until the situation with @ @ @ @ @ service becomes certain , '' spokesperson Yulia Spivakova told reporters on Friday .
`` That @ @ @ @ @ which does not mean virtual cancellation of flights .
It has been taken to avoid @ @ @ @ @ center and sales offices due to more and more rebooking cycles .
One shouldn ’ @ @ @ @ @ international flights resumption in that decision , '' she said .
Kommersant daily reported earlier @ @ @ @ @ only sells international flights tickets starting August 1 .
Previously tickets for international flights after @ @ @ @ @ Russia has suspended all international passenger flights due to the coronavirus pandemic .
The situation @ @ @ @ @ .
For example , Pobeda low-cost airline has decided to halt flights by May 31 @ @ @ @ @ in the aviation sector is over .
Moreover , Azur Air , Royal Flight and @ @ @ @ @ .

MOSCOW, April 17. /TASS/. Aeroflot has suspended sales of tickets for international flights until the situation with "resumption of international air service becomes certain," spokesperson Yulia Spivakova told reporters on Friday.
"That is a technical decision, which does not mean virtual cancellation of flights. It has been taken to avoid additional burden on our contact center and sales offices due to more and more rebooking cycles. One shouldn’t look for outlooks on international flights resumption in that decision," she said.
Kommersant daily reported earlier on Friday that the airline only sells international flights tickets starting August 1. Previously tickets for international flights after April 30 were available.
Russia has suspended all international passenger flights due to the coronavirus pandemic. The situation has also affected domestic flights. For example, Pobeda low-cost airline has decided to halt flights by May 31 to wait till the crisis in the aviation sector is over. Moreover, Azur Air, Royal Flight and iFly have suspended charter flights.


tass--2020-04-17--Moscow expected to reach COVID-19 outbreak peak in 2-3 weeks

`` The near future is going to be tough for us all .
Moscow will reach the coronavirus infection peak in the coming two-three weeks , '' she noted .
MOSCOW , April 17 .
/TASS/ .
Moscow authorities are expecting the city to hit the peak of the coronavirus outbreak in the next two-three weeks , Deputy Mayor of Moscow for social development Anastasia Rakova said .
The official recalled that a large-scale operation is underway to repurpose hospital beds to accommodate coronavirus patients .
However , she underlined that Muscovites still require other medical care and , therefore @ @ @ @ @ @ @ medical facilities and not just the ones dealing with COVID-19 .
`` Today , all services of the Moscow healthcare should work according to the same algorithm , same rhythm and in the same breath , '' Rakova added .
She also thanked medical staff for their selflessness and unity in the face of the coronavirus crisis and expressed hope that their professionalism will help them to overcome these challenges .
In late December 2019 , Chinese officials notified the World Health Organization ( WHO ) about the outbreak of a previously unknown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in central China .
Since then , cases of the novel coronavirus - named COVID-19 by the WHO - have been reported in every corner of the globe , including Russia .
To date , a total of 32,008 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Russia , with 2,590 patients having recovered from the virus .
Russia ’ s latest data indicates 273 fatalities nationwide .
Earlier , the Russian government set up an Internet hotline to keep the public updated on the coronavirus situation .

"The near future is going to be tough for us all. Moscow will reach the coronavirus infection peak in the coming two-three weeks," she noted.
MOSCOW, April 17. /TASS/. Moscow authorities are expecting the city to hit the peak of the coronavirus outbreak in the next two-three weeks, Deputy Mayor of Moscow for social development Anastasia Rakova said.
The official recalled that a large-scale operation is underway to repurpose hospital beds to accommodate coronavirus patients. However, she underlined that Muscovites still require other medical care and, therefore, the workload is increasing for all medical facilities and not just the ones dealing with COVID-19.
"Today, all services of the Moscow healthcare should work according to the same algorithm, same rhythm and in the same breath," Rakova added. She also thanked medical staff for their selflessness and unity in the face of the coronavirus crisis and expressed hope that their professionalism will help them to overcome these challenges.
In late December 2019, Chinese officials notified the World Health Organization (WHO) about the outbreak of a previously unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan, in central China. Since then, cases of the novel coronavirus - named COVID-19 by the WHO - have been reported in every corner of the globe, including Russia.
To date, a total of 32,008 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Russia, with 2,590 patients having recovered from the virus. Russia’s latest data indicates 273 fatalities nationwide. Earlier, the Russian government set up an Internet hotline to keep the public updated on the coronavirus situation.


tass--2020-04-17--Russian missile boats eliminate enemy naval force in Pacific drills

MOSCOW , April 17 .
/TASS/ .
The Pacific Fleet ’ s missile boats struck a notional enemy ’ s @ @ @ @ @ during drills , the Fleet ’ s press office reported on Friday .
`` During @ @ @ @ @ boats within two tactical groups conducted an encounter battle with notional cruise missile strikes against @ @ @ @ @ This episode practiced the entire algorithm of measures when launching a missile attack , except @ @ @ @ @ '' the press office said in a statement .
A Tu-142 long-range anti-submarine warfare plane @ @ @ @ @ s naval aviation and the large amphibious assault ship Oslyabya provided support for the missile @ @ @ @ @ statement says .
The missile boats also held drills for jointly repelling the notional enemy @ @ @ @ @ the press office said .

MOSCOW, April 17. /TASS/. The Pacific Fleet’s missile boats struck a notional enemy’s naval force with cruise missiles during drills, the Fleet’s press office reported on Friday.
"During the drills, six missile boats within two tactical groups conducted an encounter battle with notional cruise missile strikes against the enemy naval force. This episode practiced the entire algorithm of measures when launching a missile attack, except for the physical launch," the press office said in a statement.
A Tu-142 long-range anti-submarine warfare plane of the Pacific Fleet’s naval aviation and the large amphibious assault ship Oslyabya provided support for the missile boats’ operations, the statement says.
The missile boats also held drills for jointly repelling the notional enemy’s air attack, the press office said.


tass--2020-04-17--Soyuz MS-15 spacecraft crew feels well after return to Earth

MOSCOW , April 17 .
/TASS/ .
The crew members of the manned Soyuz MS-15 spacecraft that landed in Kazakhstan @ @ @ @ @ normal , Russia ’ s State Space Corporation Roscosmos reported .
The spacecraft ’ s @ @ @ @ @ Oleg Skripochka and NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Andrew Morgan back to Earth .
`` @ @ @ @ @ The overloads at some sections of the manned spacecraft ’ s descent amounted to 4G @ @ @ @ @ a statement .
Cosmonaut Oleg Skripochka reported to Roscosmos Chief Dmitry Rogozin that the Russian-US @ @ @ @ @ in the normal mode .
The Soyuz MS-15 crew returned to Earth amid the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ this , the time of its evacuation from the spacecraft ’ s landing site was @ @ @ @ @ of infection .
After undergoing medical examination , Skripochka will return to Moscow and the @ @ @ @ @ .

MOSCOW, April 17. /TASS/. The crew members of the manned Soyuz MS-15 spacecraft that landed in Kazakhstan on Friday morning are feeling normal, Russia’s State Space Corporation Roscosmos reported.
The spacecraft’s descent capsule brought Russian cosmonaut Oleg Skripochka and NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Andrew Morgan back to Earth.
"The crew feels normal. The overloads at some sections of the manned spacecraft’s descent amounted to 4G," Roscosmos said in a statement.
Cosmonaut Oleg Skripochka reported to Roscosmos Chief Dmitry Rogozin that the Russian-US crew had returned to Earth in the normal mode.
The Soyuz MS-15 crew returned to Earth amid the coronavirus pandemic. In view of this, the time of its evacuation from the spacecraft’s landing site was limited to exclude the possibility of infection. After undergoing medical examination, Skripochka will return to Moscow and the astronauts to the United States.


tass--2020-04-17--Ambassador says coronavirus imported to China, points to genetic sequence as proof

On Wednesday , Fox News reported , citing its sources , that the virus had allegedly spread from a Wuhan laboratory '' Five reputable scientific organizations , including the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden and the Central Botanical Garden of the Chinese Academy of Sciences , have collected data on 93 genome specimens of COVID-19 , published in a global database covering 12 countries on four continents , '' the diplomat specified .
`` The research revealed that the earliest ‘ ancestor ’ of the virus is mv1 , which evolved into haplotypes H13 and H38 , and they , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ second-generation haplotype — H3 , which evolved into H1 . ''
For clarity , the ambassador used family ties to trace the virus ’ s development .
Thus , the mv1 haplotype is `` the grand-grandfather , '' while H13 and H38 are `` the grandma and grandpa , '' H3 — is `` the father '' and H1 is `` the child . ''
`` The virus that was discovered at Wuhan ’ s seafood market was of the H1 variety , '' he continued .
`` Only the H3 haplotype was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had nothing to do with the seafood market . ''
The previous gene sequences , H13 and H38 , were never discovered in Wuhan .
`` This suggests that the H1 specimen was brought to the seafood market by some infected person , which sparked the epidemic .
The gene sequence can not lie , '' Zhang Hanhui asserted .
The ambassador castigated attempts to pin the blame for the pandemic on China as libel , and reiterated that the country had to undertake huge efforts and suffer a lot of casualties in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In doing so , China bought time for other nations — two entire months — in order to allow them to take prevention and control measures , '' he concluded .
Earlier , US President Donald Trump doubted that China had divulged all information about the virus ’ s emergence and spread .
On Wednesday , Fox News reported , citing its sources , that the virus had allegedly spread from a Wuhan laboratory .
Trump promised to look into this version .
The initial source of COVID-19 ’ s spread has not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be a number of regions , Zhang Hanhui stated .
`` Numerous facts indicate that the source of COVID-19 has not been identified yet and point towards various regions .
The virus is the common enemy of all of mankind , and the search for ‘ patient zero ’ is aimed not to nail them to a ‘ pillar of shame ’ but to better understand this virus , discover its evolutionary path and then defeat it completely , '' the diplomat explained .
`` By relying on contemporary science and technologies , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus and be sure that , sooner or later , the day will come when everything that ’ s been concealed will be revealed . ''
According to the envoy , although the novel coronavirus was first discovered in Wuhan , there are no facts determining that the source had originated from there .
He provided an example of a married couple from Japan , who contracted the disease in Hawaii between January 28 and February 7 , `` without visiting China or contacting any Chinese . ''
Notably , the husband had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pointed to media reports that speculate that the virus had appeared in Italy ’ s Lombardy as early as January 1 .
`` Besides , according to some media , a renowned Italian medical specialist Giuseppe Remuzzi opined that the epidemic in Italy had begun spreading before it started in China , '' he pointed out .
The diplomat also recalled a comment made by Robert Redfield , Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , who speculated that the large number of flu deaths in the US could have in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the US did not test for it at that time .
`` Italy hoped to trace the first infection case by conducting an exhumation , but the US vehemently disagreed , '' the Chinese envoy emphasized .
Beijing furnished the United States with coronavirus data on time , Zhang Hanhui told TASS Friday , commenting on Washington ’ s allegations that Beijing withheld information about the epidemic .
The diplomat recalled that in late December 2019 , the Wuhan Center for Disease Prevention and Control ( China CDC ) discovered the previously unknown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , starting January 3 , 2020 , China `` promptly and timely provided the World Health Organization ( WHO ) , the US and nations ’ relevant agencies with information on the epidemic . ''
`` On January 4 , the head of the Chinese CDC contacted the US CDC Director and briefed him on the epidemiologic situation , '' the envoy said .
`` On January 8 and 19 , the Chinese and American Centers again directly held contacts on the coronavirus issue . ''
The diplomat added that China shared the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the WHO and the nations of the world , while the National Health Commission published daily bulletins on the epidemic on its official websites and other media platforms .
Zhang Hanhui underscored that the WHO Director-General Thedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus thanked Beijing for its openness and cooperation .
Earlier , US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo claimed that the fight against the coronavirus in the US was complicated by China ’ s failure to provide Washington with comprehensive information about the disease .
Up to now , China has assisted 120 nations and four @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shipping medical masks , protective attire and ventilators , Zhang Hanhui told TASS .
According to the ambassador , the People ’ s Republic has done everything to restore production as soon as the initial coronavirus outbreak was contained , and currently is manufacturing more than a half of world ’ s stockpile of medical equipment .
`` [ China ] has provided 120 countries and four international organizations with general use medical masks , N95 respirators , protective wear , nucleic acid detection chemicals and ventilators , '' the envoy said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ contributed $ 20 million to the World Health Organization to support international cooperation in battling COVID-19 .
Ignoring China ’ s contribution and sacrifices goes against moral norms and conscience . ''
The envoy also noted that no one is safe in the face of the pandemic , and therefore all nations `` must unite , instead of pinning the blame on one another . ''
`` Racism and a Cold War mindset are not only useless in the fight against the ongoing epidemic , but can even drag our world into the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ [ The pandemic ] knows no borders .
Nations of the world are a community bound by a single destiny . ''
What is needed most of all is an effective joint prevention strategy to fight the coronavirus , Zhang Hanhui believes .
`` We must also work together to iron out economic relations , unblock trade channels , overcome possible financial crises , and prevent a global economic downturn , '' the envoy emphasized .
`` Only through the unity and joint efforts of all of humanity will we achieve a comprehensive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic . ''
On March 11 , 2020 , the WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic .
According to the latest statistics , over 2,000,000 people have been infected worldwide and more than 147,000 deaths have been reported .
In addition , so far , over 553,000 individuals have recovered from the illness across the globe .

On Wednesday, Fox News reported, citing its sources, that the virus had allegedly spread from a Wuhan laboratory
MOSCOW, April 17. /TASS/. A gene sequence in the novel coronavirus indicates that the virus was imported to China’s Wuhan, instead of emerging there, China’s Ambassador to Russia Zhang Hanhui told TASS Friday.
Read also China dismisses claims that coronavirus originated in lab as 'baseless'
"Five reputable scientific organizations, including the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden and the Central Botanical Garden of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, have collected data on 93 genome specimens of COVID-19, published in a global database covering 12 countries on four continents," the diplomat specified. "The research revealed that the earliest ‘ancestor’ of the virus is mv1, which evolved into haplotypes H13 and H38, and they, in turn, led to emergence of the second-generation haplotype — H3, which evolved into H1." For clarity, the ambassador used family ties to trace the virus’s development. Thus, the mv1 haplotype is "the grand-grandfather," while H13 and H38 are "the grandma and grandpa," H3 — is "the father" and H1 is "the child." "The virus that was discovered at Wuhan’s seafood market was of the H1 variety," he continued. "Only the H3 haplotype was discovered in Wuhan earlier, but it had nothing to do with the seafood market." The previous gene sequences, H13 and H38, were never discovered in Wuhan. "This suggests that the H1 specimen was brought to the seafood market by some infected person, which sparked the epidemic. The gene sequence cannot lie," Zhang Hanhui asserted. The ambassador castigated attempts to pin the blame for the pandemic on China as libel, and reiterated that the country had to undertake huge efforts and suffer a lot of casualties in order to beat the disease. "In doing so, China bought time for other nations — two entire months — in order to allow them to take prevention and control measures," he concluded. Earlier, US President Donald Trump doubted that China had divulged all information about the virus’s emergence and spread. On Wednesday, Fox News reported, citing its sources, that the virus had allegedly spread from a Wuhan laboratory. Trump promised to look into this version. Coronavirus source
The initial source of COVID-19’s spread has not been identified yet, but it could be a number of regions, Zhang Hanhui stated. "Numerous facts indicate that the source of COVID-19 has not been identified yet and point towards various regions. The virus is the common enemy of all of mankind, and the search for ‘patient zero’ is aimed not to nail them to a ‘pillar of shame’ but to better understand this virus, discover its evolutionary path and then defeat it completely," the diplomat explained. "By relying on contemporary science and technologies, we can trace the source of the virus and be sure that, sooner or later, the day will come when everything that’s been concealed will be revealed." According to the envoy, although the novel coronavirus was first discovered in Wuhan, there are no facts determining that the source had originated from there. He provided an example of a married couple from Japan, who contracted the disease in Hawaii between January 28 and February 7, "without visiting China or contacting any Chinese." Notably, the husband had symptoms by February 3. Zhang Hanhui pointed to media reports that speculate that the virus had appeared in Italy’s Lombardy as early as January 1. "Besides, according to some media, a renowned Italian medical specialist Giuseppe Remuzzi opined that the epidemic in Italy had begun spreading before it started in China," he pointed out. The diplomat also recalled a comment made by Robert Redfield, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, who speculated that the large number of flu deaths in the US could have in fact been caused by COVID-19, but the US did not test for it at that time. "Italy hoped to trace the first infection case by conducting an exhumation, but the US vehemently disagreed," the Chinese envoy emphasized. US allegations Beijing furnished the United States with coronavirus data on time, Zhang Hanhui told TASS Friday, commenting on Washington’s allegations that Beijing withheld information about the epidemic. The diplomat recalled that in late December 2019, the Wuhan Center for Disease Prevention and Control (China CDC) discovered the previously unknown pneumonia cases. According to the ambassador, starting January 3, 2020, China "promptly and timely provided the World Health Organization (WHO), the US and nations’ relevant agencies with information on the epidemic." "On January 4, the head of the Chinese CDC contacted the US CDC Director and briefed him on the epidemiologic situation," the envoy said. "On January 8 and 19, the Chinese and American Centers again directly held contacts on the coronavirus issue." The diplomat added that China shared the virus’s entire genome sequence with the WHO and the nations of the world, while the National Health Commission published daily bulletins on the epidemic on its official websites and other media platforms. Zhang Hanhui underscored that the WHO Director-General Thedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus thanked Beijing for its openness and cooperation. Earlier, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo claimed that the fight against the coronavirus in the US was complicated by China’s failure to provide Washington with comprehensive information about the disease. China's international help
Read also China provides Russia with over 20 tonnes of supplies for combating coronavirus


tass--2020-04-17--US looks forward to celebrating Victory Day together, says ambassador

MOSCOW , April 17 .
/TASS/ .
The United States fully supports Russia ’ s decision to postpone Victory Day @ @ @ @ @ to celebrate the anniversary together , US Ambassador to Russia John Sullivan said in a @ @ @ @ @ page of Spokesperson for the US Embassy in Moscow Rebecca Ross .
`` We fully @ @ @ @ @ to reschedule these commemorations to a time when we are all able to celebrate them @ @ @ @ @ said .
`` The United States looks forward to future opportunities to commemorate the end @ @ @ @ @ sacrifices and also of our overcoming together COVID-19 , '' he added .

MOSCOW, April 17. /TASS/. The United States fully supports Russia’s decision to postpone Victory Day celebrations and will be happy to celebrate the anniversary together, US Ambassador to Russia John Sullivan said in a video posted on the Twitter page of Spokesperson for the US Embassy in Moscow Rebecca Ross.
"We fully support Russia’s decision to reschedule these commemorations to a time when we are all able to celebrate them properly," the diplomat said.
"The United States looks forward to future opportunities to commemorate the end of WWII and our shared sacrifices and also of our overcoming together COVID-19," he added.


tass--2020-04-17--Russia documents 4,069 COVID-19 cases in past 24 hours

MOSCOW , April 17 .
/TASS/ .
Over 4,000 people have tested positive for the novel coronavirus ( COVID-19 ) @ @ @ @ @ 24 hours , with the total amount of COVID-19 cases in the country reaching 32,007 @ @ @ @ @ ’ s anti-coronavirus crisis center Alexander Myasnikov said on the Rossiya-24 TV channel .
Over @ @ @ @ @ in the world in past day — WHO '' In the past 24 hours , @ @ @ @ @ tests [ for the novel coronavirus ] .
286 people have been discharged from hospitals @ @ @ @ @ , 32,007 people in our country have tested positive for the novel coronavirus .
The @ @ @ @ @ risen to 2,590 .
Unfortunately , 273 [ people ] have died , '' he @ @ @ @ @ informed TASS that this data is not final , as the data on the Altai @ @ @ @ @ yet .

MOSCOW, April 17. /TASS/. Over 4,000 people have tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in Russia in the past 24 hours, with the total amount of COVID-19 cases in the country reaching 32,007, a spokesperson of Russia’s anti-coronavirus crisis center Alexander Myasnikov said on the Rossiya-24 TV channel.
Over 76,000 new coronavirus cases confirmed in the world in past day — WHO
"In the past 24 hours, Russia has documented 4,069 positive tests [for the novel coronavirus]. 286 people have been discharged from hospitals on recovery. In total, 32,007 people in our country have tested positive for the novel coronavirus. The number of those recovered has risen to 2,590. Unfortunately, 273 [people] have died," he said.
The crisis center informed TASS that this data is not final, as the data on the Altai Republic has not been included yet.


tass--2020-04-17--China revises Wuhan death toll by nearly 1,300

The data has been revised due to the addition of patients unable to reach hospitals , due to late or mistaken reporting and due to the difficulty of compiling information received from private hospitals , temporary hospitals and other facilities that handled patients .
BEIJING , April 17 .
/TASS/ .
China has revised the death toll from COVID-19 in Wuhan by nearly 1,300 , from 2,579 to 3,869 deaths , the Wuhan ’ s prevention and control task force informed on Friday .
The number of people infected has risen by 325 , reaching 50,333 .
`` Every loss @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just a loss for their family , it is a sorrow for the entire city as well .
We express our sincere condolences to all those who died from the coronavirus and to those who arrived from other places , to the medical staff who sacrificed their lives during that time , '' the task force said .
According to the latest data provided by the Chinese National Health Commission , 94.6 % of those infected have recovered in mainland China , including 52 people on Thursday .
The number of people infected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The official lethality rate in the country is 4 % .
Over 8,900 people who came into contact with those infected are under medical supervision in China .
There are currently 62 people in the country suspected of having contracted the virus .
In late December 2019 , Chinese officials notified the World Health Organization ( WHO ) about the outbreak of a previously unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan , in central China .
Since then , cases of the novel coronavirus - named COVID-19 by the WHO - have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including Russia .
On March 11 , 2020 , the WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic .
According to the latest statistics , nearly 2,100,000 people have been infected worldwide and nearly 140,000 deaths have been reported .

The data has been revised due to the addition of patients unable to reach hospitals, due to late or mistaken reporting and due to the difficulty of compiling information received from private hospitals, temporary hospitals and other facilities that handled patients.
BEIJING, April 17. /TASS/. China has revised the death toll from COVID-19 in Wuhan by nearly 1,300, from 2,579 to 3,869 deaths, the Wuhan’s prevention and control task force informed on Friday. The number of people infected has risen by 325, reaching 50,333.
"Every loss of life during the epidemic is not just a loss for their family, it is a sorrow for the entire city as well. We express our sincere condolences to all those who died from the coronavirus and to those who arrived from other places, to the medical staff who sacrificed their lives during that time," the task force said.
According to the latest data provided by the Chinese National Health Commission, 94.6% of those infected have recovered in mainland China, including 52 people on Thursday. The number of people infected since December 2019 has surpassed 82,300. The official lethality rate in the country is 4%.
Over 8,900 people who came into contact with those infected are under medical supervision in China. There are currently 62 people in the country suspected of having contracted the virus.
In late December 2019, Chinese officials notified the World Health Organization (WHO) about the outbreak of a previously unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan, in central China. Since then, cases of the novel coronavirus - named COVID-19 by the WHO - have been reported in every corner of the globe, including Russia.
On March 11, 2020, the WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic. According to the latest statistics, nearly 2,100,000 people have been infected worldwide and nearly 140,000 deaths have been reported.


tass--2020-04-17--ISS crew evacuated from Soyuz-MS15 on landing

MOSCOW , April 17 .
/TASS/ .
Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Skripochka and NASA astronauts Andrew Morgan and Jessica Meir have @ @ @ @ @ MS-15 manned spacecraft , which landed earlier in Kazakhstan , 147 km to the southeast @ @ @ @ @ .
The Roscosmos website organized a live transmission of the event .
The spacecraft left @ @ @ @ @ ISS ) at 04:53 Moscow time .
Russian astronauts Anatoly Ivanishin and Ivan Vagner remain @ @ @ @ @ their NASA colleague Chris Cassidy , who has been appointed commander of the station .
@ @ @ @ @ Earth due to the novel coronavirus pandemic .
All astronauts will undergo medical check-ups , @ @ @ @ @ transported to Baikonur .
After that , Skripochka will head to Moscow , and his @ @ @ @ @ the USA .
All personnel working with the astronauts on land have been tested for @ @

MOSCOW, April 17. /TASS/. Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Skripochka and NASA astronauts Andrew Morgan and Jessica Meir have been evacuated from the Soyuz MS-15 manned spacecraft, which landed earlier in Kazakhstan, 147 km to the southeast of the city of Zhezqazghan. The Roscosmos website organized a live transmission of the event.
The spacecraft left the International Space Station (ISS) at 04:53 Moscow time. Russian astronauts Anatoly Ivanishin and Ivan Vagner remain at the station along with their NASA colleague Chris Cassidy, who has been appointed commander of the station.
The crew has returned to Earth due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. All astronauts will undergo medical check-ups, after which they will be transported to Baikonur. After that, Skripochka will head to Moscow, and his US colleagues will travel to the USA. All personnel working with the astronauts on land have been tested for COVID-19.


tass--2020-04-17--Kaneka Agrees to Supply Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients for Avigan® Tablet

TOKYO , April 16 , 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Kaneka Corporation ( President : Minoru Tanaka ) has reached an agreement with FUJIFILM Corporation ( President : Kenji Sukeno ) to supply drug substances for anti-influenza drug , Avigan® Tablet ( generic name : favipiravir ) , for the novel coronavirus disease ( referred to below as COVID-19 ) .
While COVID-19 continues to spread , the Japanese government has decided to increase its stockpiles of Avigan® Tablet , which is expected to be effective against COVID-19 , for up to 2 million people , and FUJIFILM Corporation has expanded its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Avigan® Tablet .
We have been highly commended by major pharmaceutical manufacturers around the world for our process development capabilities , manufacturing technology , and quality of pharmaceuticals cultivated over many years , and on this occasion , we have been requested to supply drug substances as a major supplier .
We believe that it is our social mission to promptly start the supply of drug substances for Avigan® Tablet , and we will urgently improve our manufacturing system through capital investment , personnel allocation changes , and production plan adjustments to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We have already started supplying PCR reagents used for COVID-19 tests via our group company Kaneka Eurogentec ( Headquarters : Belgium ) .
In addition , we are enhancing our contracted manufacturing efforts for a COVID-19 vaccine using technologies such as high-quality mRNA and plasmid DNA and are handling an onrush of inquiries .
Kaneka will put in every effort to provide solutions to the COVID-19 for worldwide health .

TOKYO, April 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Kaneka Corporation (President: Minoru Tanaka) has reached an agreement with FUJIFILM Corporation (President: Kenji Sukeno) to supply drug substances for anti-influenza drug, Avigan® Tablet (generic name: favipiravir), for the novel coronavirus disease (referred to below as COVID-19).
While COVID-19 continues to spread, the Japanese government has decided to increase its stockpiles of Avigan® Tablet, which is expected to be effective against COVID-19, for up to 2 million people, and FUJIFILM Corporation has expanded its production system and started increasing its production of Avigan® Tablet.
We have been highly commended by major pharmaceutical manufacturers around the world for our process development capabilities, manufacturing technology, and quality of pharmaceuticals cultivated over many years, and on this occasion, we have been requested to supply drug substances as a major supplier. We believe that it is our social mission to promptly start the supply of drug substances for Avigan® Tablet, and we will urgently improve our manufacturing system through capital investment, personnel allocation changes, and production plan adjustments to begin supplying the drug substances in July.
We have already started supplying PCR reagents used for COVID-19 tests via our group company Kaneka Eurogentec (Headquarters: Belgium). In addition, we are enhancing our contracted manufacturing efforts for a COVID-19 vaccine using technologies such as high-quality mRNA and plasmid DNA and are handling an onrush of inquiries.
Kaneka will put in every effort to provide solutions to the COVID-19 for worldwide health.
Contact: Kazuhiko Fujii, kazuhiko.fujii@kaneka.co.jp
Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/635217/Kaneka_Corporation_Logo.jpg


tass--2020-04-17--Soyuz MS-15 with 3 ISS crew members lands in Kazakhstan

MOSCOW , April 17 .
/TASS/ .
The Soyuz MS-15 manned spacecraft with three International Space Station ( ISS ) @ @ @ @ @ in Kazakhstan , 147 km to the southeast of the city of Zhezqazghan , Russian @ @ @ @ @ Dmitry Rogozin said on Twitter on Friday .
Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Skripochka and NASA astronauts @ @ @ @ @ are on board the spacecraft .
The spacecraft left the ISS at 04:53 Moscow time @ @ @ @ @ and Ivan Vagner remain at the station along with their NASA colleague Chris Cassidy , @ @ @ @ @ of the station .
The crew has returned to Earth due to the novel coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ undergo medical check-ups , after which they will be transported to Baikonur .
After that @ @ @ @ @ Moscow , and his US colleagues will travel to the USA .
All personnel working @ @ @ @ @ have been tested for COVID-19 .

MOSCOW, April 17. /TASS/. The Soyuz MS-15 manned spacecraft with three International Space Station (ISS) crewmembers on board has landed in Kazakhstan, 147 km to the southeast of the city of Zhezqazghan, Russian state space corporation Roscosmos chief Dmitry Rogozin said on Twitter on Friday.
"Soyuz MS-15 has landed," he wrote.
Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Skripochka and NASA astronauts Andrew Morgan and Jessica Meir are on board the spacecraft.
The spacecraft left the ISS at 04:53 Moscow time. Russian astronauts Anatoly Ivanishin and Ivan Vagner remain at the station along with their NASA colleague Chris Cassidy, who has been appointed commander of the station.
The crew has returned to Earth due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. All astronauts will undergo medical check-ups, after which they will be transported to Baikonur. After that, Skripochka will head to Moscow, and his US colleagues will travel to the USA. All personnel working with the astronauts on land have been tested for COVID-19.


tass--2020-04-17--Soyuz with 3 ISS crewmembers on board starts descent from Earth's orbit

MOSCOW , April 17 .
/TASS/ .
The Soyuz MS-15 manned spacecraft with three crewmembers on board has turned on @ @ @ @ @ descending from the Earth 's orbit .
`` The engines have been turned on , @ @ @ @ @ Russia 's Roscosmos space agency told TASS .
The spacecraft left the International Space Station @ @ @ @ @ ago .
On board the spacecraft are Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Skripochka and NASA astronauts Andrew @ @ @ @ @ The Soyuz spacecraft is expected to land in 147 km to the south-east of the @ @ @ @ @ at 8:16am Moscow time .

MOSCOW, April 17. /TASS/. The Soyuz MS-15 manned spacecraft with three crewmembers on board has turned on engines for braking and started descending from the Earth's orbit.
"The engines have been turned on, everything is normal," Russia's Roscosmos space agency told TASS.
The spacecraft left the International Space Station (ISS) several hours ago.
On board the spacecraft are Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Skripochka and NASA astronauts Andrew Morgan and Jessica Meir.
The Soyuz spacecraft is expected to land in 147 km to the south-east of the town of Zhezkazgan in Kazakhstan at 8:16am Moscow time.


tass--2020-04-17--Number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kazakhstan surpasses 1,400

NUR-SULTAN , April 17 .
/TASS/ .
Forty new coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Kazakhstan in the past day , and the total number of cases in the country reached 1,402 , Kazakhstan 's health ministry said on Friday .
`` Forty new coronavirus cases have been reported - 10 in Nur-Sultan , 19 in Almaty , 2 in Shymkent , 4 in the Turkestan region , 3 in the Kyzylordinskaya region , 1 in Atyauskaya region , 1 in the Western Kazakhstani region , '' the ministry said .
So far , 17 people died from coronavirus-associated illnesses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In late December 2019 , Chinese officials notified the World Health Organization ( WHO ) about the outbreak of a previously unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan , in central China .
Since then , cases of the novel coronavirus - named COVID-19 by the WHO - have been reported in every corner of the globe , including Russia .
On March 11 , 2020 , the WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic .
According to the latest statistics , over 2,000,000 people have been infected worldwide and more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ addition , so far , over 485,000 individuals have recovered from the illness across the globe .

NUR-SULTAN, April 17. /TASS/. Forty new coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Kazakhstan in the past day, and the total number of cases in the country reached 1,402, Kazakhstan's health ministry said on Friday.
"Forty new coronavirus cases have been reported - 10 in Nur-Sultan, 19 in Almaty, 2 in Shymkent, 4 in the Turkestan region, 3 in the Kyzylordinskaya region, 1 in Atyauskaya region, 1 in the Western Kazakhstani region," the ministry said.
So far, 17 people died from coronavirus-associated illnesses and complications, and 277 people recovered.
In late December 2019, Chinese officials notified the World Health Organization (WHO) about the outbreak of a previously unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan, in central China. Since then, cases of the novel coronavirus - named COVID-19 by the WHO - have been reported in every corner of the globe, including Russia.
On March 11, 2020, the WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic. According to the latest statistics, over 2,000,000 people have been infected worldwide and more than 126,800 deaths have been reported. In addition, so far, over 485,000 individuals have recovered from the illness across the globe.


tass--2020-04-17--G7 leaders discuss measures to fight coronavirus

LONDON , April 16 .
/TASS/ .
The leaders of the G7 countries agree that developing and producing a vaccine will be crucial to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus , the statement distributed by the UK government said on Thursday after the virtual summit of G7 leaders .
`` They agreed that the rapid development and production of coronavirus treatments and a vaccine will be crucial to stop the spread of the virus around the world , '' the statement said .
`` The [ UK ] First Secretary of State stressed the need for the response to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ added .
`` G7 leaders also agreed on the importance of financial measures to defend the global economy against the impact of coronavirus .
The First Secretary of State welcomed the efforts that have been made to coordinate economic responses , including agreements on debt relief earlier this week , and urged all countries to support long-term economic recovery , '' the statement said .
`` Leaders discussed the particular risk coronavirus poses to developing nations and agreed on the need to fight coronavirus in every country .
They committed to continue to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ multinational organisations and by ensuring governments around the world have access to medical supplies they need , '' the statement noted .
In late December 2019 , Chinese officials notified the World Health Organization ( WHO ) about the outbreak of a previously unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan , in central China .
Since then , cases of the novel coronavirus - named COVID-19 by the WHO - have been reported in every corner of the globe , including Russia .
On March 11 , 2020 , the WHO declared the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the latest statistics , over 2,000,000 people have been infected worldwide and more than 126,800 deaths have been reported .
In addition , so far , over 485,000 individuals have recovered from the illness across the globe .

LONDON, April 16. /TASS/. The leaders of the G7 countries agree that developing and producing a vaccine will be crucial to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus, the statement distributed by the UK government said on Thursday after the virtual summit of G7 leaders.
"They agreed that the rapid development and production of coronavirus treatments and a vaccine will be crucial to stop the spread of the virus around the world," the statement said. "The [UK] First Secretary of State stressed the need for the response to be internationally coordinated," the statement added.
"G7 leaders also agreed on the importance of financial measures to defend the global economy against the impact of coronavirus. The First Secretary of State welcomed the efforts that have been made to coordinate economic responses, including agreements on debt relief earlier this week, and urged all countries to support long-term economic recovery," the statement said.
"Leaders discussed the particular risk coronavirus poses to developing nations and agreed on the need to fight coronavirus in every country. They committed to continue to support developing countries through bilateral assistance, multinational organisations and by ensuring governments around the world have access to medical supplies they need," the statement noted.
In late December 2019, Chinese officials notified the World Health Organization (WHO) about the outbreak of a previously unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan, in central China. Since then, cases of the novel coronavirus - named COVID-19 by the WHO - have been reported in every corner of the globe, including Russia.
On March 11, 2020, the WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic. According to the latest statistics, over 2,000,000 people have been infected worldwide and more than 126,800 deaths have been reported. In addition, so far, over 485,000 individuals have recovered from the illness across the globe.


tass--2020-04-17--Number of coronavirus cases nears 6,300 in Mexico

MEXICO CITY , April 17 .
/TASS/ .
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Mexico has increased by 450 in the past day and reached 6,297 , chief epidemiologist at the country 's health ministry Jose Luis Alomia told a press conference on Thursday .
`` A total of 6,297 cases [ of novel coronavirus ] have been confirmed by testing , '' he said adding that thirty-seven patients died in the past day , bringing the total number of fatalities to 486 .
Doctors are testing another 12,340 people for COVID-19 .
The first coronavirus case was confirmed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ March 30 , the Mexican government declared a state of emergency in the healthcare system .
In late December 2019 , Chinese officials notified the World Health Organization ( WHO ) about the outbreak of a previously unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan , in central China .
Since then , cases of the novel coronavirus - named COVID-19 by the WHO - have been reported in every corner of the globe , including Russia .
On March 11 , 2020 , the WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic .
According @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people have been infected worldwide and more than 126,800 deaths have been reported .
In addition , so far , over 485,000 individuals have recovered from the illness across the globe .

MEXICO CITY, April 17. /TASS/. The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Mexico has increased by 450 in the past day and reached 6,297, chief epidemiologist at the country's health ministry Jose Luis Alomia told a press conference on Thursday.
"A total of 6,297 cases [of novel coronavirus] have been confirmed by testing," he said adding that thirty-seven patients died in the past day, bringing the total number of fatalities to 486. Doctors are testing another 12,340 people for COVID-19.
The first coronavirus case was confirmed in Mexico on February 28. On March 30, the Mexican government declared a state of emergency in the healthcare system.
In late December 2019, Chinese officials notified the World Health Organization (WHO) about the outbreak of a previously unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan, in central China. Since then, cases of the novel coronavirus - named COVID-19 by the WHO - have been reported in every corner of the globe, including Russia.
On March 11, 2020, the WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic. According to the latest statistics, over 2,000,000 people have been infected worldwide and more than 126,800 deaths have been reported. In addition, so far, over 485,000 individuals have recovered from the illness across the globe.


tass--2020-04-17--Number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Canada exceeds 30,000

OTTAWA , April 17 .
/TASS/ .
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Canada has increased to 30,092 in the past day , the country 's health ministry reported on Thursday .
Nearly 487,600 people have undergone coronavirus testing in the country .
Most coronavirus cases were reported in the provinces of Quebec ( 15,857 ) , Ontario ( 8,961 ) and Alberta ( 2,158 ) .
The fist coronavirus case was confirmed in Canada on January 15 .
So far , 1,193 people died from coronavirus-associated illnesses and complications , while around 9,700 people recovered .
Coronavirus cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Canadian provinces , with the exception of Nunavut .
On April 9 , Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that according to forecasts , the coronavirus pandemic will peak in Canada at the end of May .
In late December 2019 , Chinese officials notified the World Health Organization ( WHO ) about the outbreak of a previously unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan , in central China .
Since then , cases of the novel coronavirus - named COVID-19 by the WHO - have been reported in every corner of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 11 , 2020 , the WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic .
According to the latest statistics , over 2,000,000 people have been infected worldwide and more than 126,800 deaths have been reported .
In addition , so far , over 485,000 individuals have recovered from the illness across the globe .

OTTAWA, April 17. /TASS/. The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Canada has increased to 30,092 in the past day, the country's health ministry reported on Thursday.
Nearly 487,600 people have undergone coronavirus testing in the country. Most coronavirus cases were reported in the provinces of Quebec (15,857), Ontario (8,961) and Alberta (2,158).
The fist coronavirus case was confirmed in Canada on January 15. So far, 1,193 people died from coronavirus-associated illnesses and complications, while around 9,700 people recovered. Coronavirus cases were confirmed in 12 out of 13 Canadian provinces, with the exception of Nunavut.
On April 9, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that according to forecasts, the coronavirus pandemic will peak in Canada at the end of May.
In late December 2019, Chinese officials notified the World Health Organization (WHO) about the outbreak of a previously unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan, in central China. Since then, cases of the novel coronavirus - named COVID-19 by the WHO - have been reported in every corner of the globe, including Russia.
On March 11, 2020, the WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic. According to the latest statistics, over 2,000,000 people have been infected worldwide and more than 126,800 deaths have been reported. In addition, so far, over 485,000 individuals have recovered from the illness across the globe.


tass--2020-04-17--Number of coronavirus cases in Venezuela exceeds 200 — Maduro

BOGOTA , April 17 .
/TASS/ .
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Venezuela has increased by seven in the last 24 hours and reached 204 , President Nicolas Maduro said on Thursday .
`` With these seven new cases , Venezuela has reached the number of 207 , '' Maduro said in a speech broadcast on national television .
He added that 111 people have recovered , and nine people died .
The fist two coronavirus cases were confirmed in Venezuela on March 13 .
On March 17 , Maduro imposed the quarantine regime on the territory of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Chinese officials notified the World Health Organization ( WHO ) about the outbreak of a previously unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan , in central China .
Since then , cases of the novel coronavirus - named COVID-19 by the WHO - have been reported in every corner of the globe , including Russia .
On March 11 , 2020 , the WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic .
According to the latest statistics , over 2,000,000 people have been infected worldwide and more than 126,800 deaths have been reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over 485,000 individuals have recovered from the illness across the globe .

BOGOTA, April 17. /TASS/. The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Venezuela has increased by seven in the last 24 hours and reached 204, President Nicolas Maduro said on Thursday.
"With these seven new cases, Venezuela has reached the number of 207," Maduro said in a speech broadcast on national television.
He added that 111 people have recovered, and nine people died.
The fist two coronavirus cases were confirmed in Venezuela on March 13. On March 17, Maduro imposed the quarantine regime on the territory of the country.
In late December 2019, Chinese officials notified the World Health Organization (WHO) about the outbreak of a previously unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan, in central China. Since then, cases of the novel coronavirus - named COVID-19 by the WHO - have been reported in every corner of the globe, including Russia.
On March 11, 2020, the WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic. According to the latest statistics, over 2,000,000 people have been infected worldwide and more than 126,800 deaths have been reported. In addition, so far, over 485,000 individuals have recovered from the illness across the globe.


tass--2020-04-18--US to allocate $19 billion for assisting farmers amid coronavirus — Trump

WASHINGTON , April 18 .
/TASS/ .
US President Donald Trump announced on Friday that his administration would allocate $ @ @ @ @ @ help mitigate the consequences of the novel coronavirus for the industry .
The program , @ @ @ @ @ US Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue and the U.S. Department of Agriculture , will be @ @ @ @ @ direct payments to farmers and state purchases of dairy , meat and other products for @ @ @ @ @ July , additional $ 14 billion will be allocated for the purpose .
Perdue , @ @ @ @ @ $ 16 billion will be allocated for direct financial assistance and $ 3 billion - @ @ @ @ @ .
The number of the coronavirus-related fatalities on the US territory has reached 36,721 , @ @ @ @ @ University ’ s data .
By this point , over 692,000 people in the US @ @ @ @ @

WASHINGTON, April 18. /TASS/. US President Donald Trump announced on Friday that his administration would allocate $19 billion to farmers to help mitigate the consequences of the novel coronavirus for the industry.
The program, to be carried out by US Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, will be divided into two parts - direct payments to farmers and state purchases of dairy, meat and other products for those in need.
In July, additional $14 billion will be allocated for the purpose.
Perdue, in turn, said that $16 billion will be allocated for direct financial assistance and $3 billion - for state purchases from farmers.
The number of the coronavirus-related fatalities on the US territory has reached 36,721, according to the John Hopkins University’s data. By this point, over 692,000 people in the US were diagnosed with COVID-19.


tass--2020-04-18--Solidarity Response Fund receives $150 mln from donors — WHO

GENEVA , April 18 .
/TASS/ .
The Solidarity Response Fund , created upon the World Health Organization ( WHO ) ’ s initiative in March to finance anti-coronavirus measures , has received $ 150 million in donations from 245,000 individuals and organizations worldwide , WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters in Geneva on Friday .
`` So far , the Solidarity Response Fund has generated more than US $ 150 million from more than 245,000 individuals , corporations and foundations , '' he said .
`` These funds are helping us to buy personal protective equipment , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the countries that need it most . ''
The WHO chief also expressed his solidarity with `` frontline '' healthcare workers .
He also noted `` encouraging signs '' in some countries , and `` worrying trends '' in others .
According to Ghebreyesus , the past week saw a 51 % increase in the number of reported cases in Africa , and a 60 % increase in the number of reported deaths there .
However , `` with the current challenge of obtaining testing kits , it ’ s likely that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' he added .
Speaking about WHO ’ s position on `` wet markets , '' where live animals are being sold , the WHO director general said that they must be allowed to reopen `` only be on the condition that they conform to stringent food safety and hygiene standards . ''
WHO has worked closely with the World Organization for Animal Health and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations , to develop guidance on the safe operation of those markets , he said , adding that `` an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come from animals . ''
In late December 2019 , Chinese officials notified the World Health Organization ( WHO ) about the outbreak of a previously unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan , in central China .
Since then , cases of the novel coronavirus - named COVID-19 by the WHO - have been reported in every corner of the globe , including Russia .
On March 11 , 2020 , the WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic .
According to the latest statistics , over 2,190,000 people have been infected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been reported .
In addition , so far , over 553,000 individuals have recovered from the illness across the globe .

GENEVA, April 18. /TASS/. The Solidarity Response Fund, created upon the World Health Organization (WHO)’s initiative in March to finance anti-coronavirus measures, has received $150 million in donations from 245,000 individuals and organizations worldwide, WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters in Geneva on Friday.
"So far, the Solidarity Response Fund has generated more than US$150 million from more than 245,000 individuals, corporations and foundations," he said. "These funds are helping us to buy personal protective equipment, laboratory diagnostics and other essential supplies for the countries that need it most."
The WHO chief also expressed his solidarity with "frontline" healthcare workers.
He also noted "encouraging signs" in some countries, and "worrying trends" in others.
According to Ghebreyesus, the past week saw a 51% increase in the number of reported cases in Africa, and a 60% increase in the number of reported deaths there. However, "with the current challenge of obtaining testing kits, it’s likely that the real numbers are higher than reported," he added.
Speaking about WHO’s position on "wet markets," where live animals are being sold, the WHO director general said that they must be allowed to reopen "only be on the condition that they conform to stringent food safety and hygiene standards."
WHO has worked closely with the World Organization for Animal Health and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, to develop guidance on the safe operation of those markets, he said, adding that "an estimated 70% of all new viruses come from animals."
Coronavirus pandemic
In late December 2019, Chinese officials notified the World Health Organization (WHO) about the outbreak of a previously unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan, in central China. Since then, cases of the novel coronavirus - named COVID-19 by the WHO - have been reported in every corner of the globe, including Russia.
On March 11, 2020, the WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic. According to the latest statistics, over 2,190,000 people have been infected worldwide and more than 147,000 deaths have been reported. In addition, so far, over 553,000 individuals have recovered from the illness across the globe.


tass--2020-04-18--Number of COVID-2019 cases across globe up by almost 83,000 in past day — WHO

GENEVA , April 18 .
/TASS/ .
More than 83,000 confirmed cases of novel coronavirus were registered worldwide in the past 24 hours , or by nearly 6,000 cases more than on the previous day , the World Health Organization ( WHO ) said in its daily bulletin on Friday .
As of 11:00 Moscow time on April 17 , as many as 2,074,579 novel coronavirus cases and 139,378 coronavirus-associated deaths were registered across the globe .
The number of confirmed cases grew by 82,967 in the past 24 hours and the number of fatalities increased by 8,493 .
Europe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and fatalities - 1,050,871 and 93,480 , respectively .
In the past 24 hours , the number of cases there grew by 37,778 and the number of deaths - by 4,163 .
The number confirmed COVID-2019 cases in South and North America reached 743,607 and the number of deaths stands at 33,028 .
In the past 24 hours , the number of cases grew by 36,486 and the number of deaths - by 2,783 .
The Asia Pacific region , which includes China , South Korea and Japan , has 127,595 cases and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The biggest number of coronavirus cases were reported from the United States ( 632,781 ) , Spain ( 182,816 ) , Italy ( 168,941 ) , Germany ( 133,830 ) , France ( 107,778 ) , the United Kingdom ( 103,093 ) , China ( 84,149 ) , Iran ( 77,995 ) , Turkey ( 74,193 ) , and Belgium ( 34,809 ) .
A pneumonia outbreak caused by the COVID-19 virus ( previously known as 2019-nCoV ) was reported in China ’ s city of Wuhan , a large trade and industrial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in late December 2019 .
Since then , cases of the new coronavirus have been reported from nearly all parts of the world .
On March 11 , 2020 , the World Health Organization ( WHO ) declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic .

GENEVA, April 18. /TASS/. More than 83,000 confirmed cases of novel coronavirus were registered worldwide in the past 24 hours, or by nearly 6,000 cases more than on the previous day, the World Health Organization (WHO) said in its daily bulletin on Friday.
As of 11:00 Moscow time on April 17, as many as 2,074,579 novel coronavirus cases and 139,378 coronavirus-associated deaths were registered across the globe. The number of confirmed cases grew by 82,967 in the past 24 hours and the number of fatalities increased by 8,493.
Europe accounts for the majority of confirmed cases and fatalities - 1,050,871 and 93,480, respectively. In the past 24 hours, the number of cases there grew by 37,778 and the number of deaths - by 4,163.
The number confirmed COVID-2019 cases in South and North America reached 743,607 and the number of deaths stands at 33,028. In the past 24 hours, the number of cases grew by 36,486 and the number of deaths - by 2,783.
The Asia Pacific region, which includes China, South Korea and Japan, has 127,595 cases and 5,558 fatalities as of April 17.
The biggest number of coronavirus cases were reported from the United States (632,781), Spain (182,816), Italy (168,941), Germany (133,830), France (107,778), the United Kingdom (103,093), China (84,149), Iran (77,995), Turkey (74,193), and Belgium (34,809).
A pneumonia outbreak caused by the COVID-19 virus (previously known as 2019-nCoV) was reported in China’s city of Wuhan, a large trade and industrial center with a population of 12 million, in late December 2019. Since then, cases of the new coronavirus have been reported from nearly all parts of the world. On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic.


tass--2020-04-18--21 coronavirus-positive patients aged from 34 to 91 die in Moscow — crisis center

MOSCOW , April 17 .
/TASS/ .
Twenty-one more coronavirus-positive patients have died in Moscow in the past day , @ @ @ @ @ crisis center said on Friday .
`` Twenty-one coronavirus patients diagnosed with pneumonia have died @ @ @ @ @ are aged from 34 to 91 , '' it said .
The 34-year-old man was @ @ @ @ @ affection of both lungs .
Apart from that , he suffered from Pickwickian syndrome ( @ @ @ @ @ `` Most of the patients suffered from concurrent diseases , including hypertonia , chronic bronchitis @ @ @ @ @ .
Six of them had diabetes , '' it said .
According to the crisis @ @ @ @ @ 148 coronavirus-positive patients have died in Moscow .
To date , a total of 32,008 @ @ @ @ @ in Russia , with 2,590 patients having recovered from the virus .
Earlier , the @ @ @ @ @ Internet hotline to keep the public updated on the coronavirus situation .

MOSCOW, April 17. /TASS/. Twenty-one more coronavirus-positive patients have died in Moscow in the past day, the city’s anti-coronavirus crisis center said on Friday.
"Twenty-one coronavirus patients diagnosed with pneumonia have died in Moscow. The patients are aged from 34 to 91," it said.
The 34-year-old man was diagnosed with pneumonia with total affection of both lungs. Apart from that, he suffered from Pickwickian syndrome (Obesity hypoventilation syndrome).
"Most of the patients suffered from concurrent diseases, including hypertonia, chronic bronchitis, pyelonephritis, hepatic cirrhosis. Six of them had diabetes," it said.
According to the crisis center, a total of 148 coronavirus-positive patients have died in Moscow.
To date, a total of 32,008 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Russia, with 2,590 patients having recovered from the virus. Earlier, the Russian government set up an Internet hotline to keep the public updated on the coronavirus situation.


tass--2020-04-18--Number of novel coronavirus fatalities worldwide exceeds 150,000 — US university

WASHINGTON , April 17 .
/TASS/ .
The number of patients with confirmed novel coronavirus infection who died worldwide has exceeded the benchmark of 150,000 and now stands at 150,948 , the Johns Hopkins University said on Friday .
According to the university , which makes its own calculations based on bulletins issued by governments , the overall number of cases worldwide now stands at 2,214,861 .
A total of 564,525 patients have recovered .
The United States remains the hardest-hit country , with 683,786 confirmed cases and 34,575 deaths .
A total of 188,093 people were infected in Spain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has reported 172,434 cases and 22,745 deaths .
Other seriously affected countries are France ( about 147,000 cases ) , Germany ( about 139,000 cases ) and the United Kingdom ( about 109,000 cases ) .
In late December 2019 , Chinese officials notified the World Health Organization ( WHO ) about the outbreak of a previously unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan , in central China .
Since then , cases of the novel coronavirus - named COVID-19 by the WHO - have been reported in every corner of the globe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 2020 , the WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic .
To date , a total of 32,008 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Russia , with 2,590 patients having recovered from the disease .
Russia ’ s latest data indicates 273 fatalities nationwide .
Earlier , the Russian government set up an Internet hotline to keep the public updated on the coronavirus situation .

WASHINGTON, April 17. /TASS/. The number of patients with confirmed novel coronavirus infection who died worldwide has exceeded the benchmark of 150,000 and now stands at 150,948, the Johns Hopkins University said on Friday.
According to the university, which makes its own calculations based on bulletins issued by governments, the overall number of cases worldwide now stands at 2,214,861. A total of 564,525 patients have recovered.
The United States remains the hardest-hit country, with 683,786 confirmed cases and 34,575 deaths. A total of 188,093 people were infected in Spain, 19,613 of them died. Italy has reported 172,434 cases and 22,745 deaths.
Other seriously affected countries are France (about 147,000 cases), Germany (about 139,000 cases) and the United Kingdom (about 109,000 cases).
In late December 2019, Chinese officials notified the World Health Organization (WHO) about the outbreak of a previously unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan, in central China. Since then, cases of the novel coronavirus - named COVID-19 by the WHO - have been reported in every corner of the globe, including Russia. On March 11, 2020, the WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic.
To date, a total of 32,008 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Russia, with 2,590 patients having recovered from the disease. Russia’s latest data indicates 273 fatalities nationwide. Earlier, the Russian government set up an Internet hotline to keep the public updated on the coronavirus situation.


tass--2020-04-18--Whelan case conducted in strict compliance with all Russian legal norms — diplomat

MOSCOW , April 17 .
/TASS/ .
The espionage case against US citizen Paul Whelan is conducted in strict compliance with Russia ’ s legislation , although some adjustments have been introduced due to the novel coronavirus pandemic , Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Friday .
Zakharova ’ s statement came in response to US Ambassador to Russia John Sullivan ’ s remark about the need to release the suspect from the Lefortovo pretrial detention facility in Moscow , where he is currently being held .
`` Regretfully , he [ Whelan ] himself delayed the process @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she said .
`` At present , due the novel coronavirus infection that has spread all over the world , some adjustments had to be introduced into the court proceedings , which began on March 30 .
Due to quarantine restrictions imposed in Moscow , the session will have to be postponed to a later date . ''
`` The court proceedings are conducted in strict compliance with the Russian law , all the required procedural norms are observed , '' Zakharova added .
She said that Whelan is receiving all the necessary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and from other specialists when necessary .
United States Ambassador to Russia John Sullivan said in a statement on April 14 that the case against Whelan was `` not only morally wrong and legally suspect but represents a significant obstacle in the U.S.-Russia bilateral relationship . ''
The Moscow City Court started hearing the criminal case against Whelan on Monday .
In his statement , Sullivan noted that he `` attempted to see Paul inside the courthouse before his scheduled hearing , '' but he was not allowed there .
Earlier , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the ambassador was not allowed to enter the building over the coronavirus restrictions .
US citizen Paul Whelan , who also holds British , Canadian and Irish citizenship , is a global security chief at BorgWarner , a Michigan-based automotive components company .
The Russian Federal Security Service ( FSB ) said Whelan was detained on December 28 , 2018 in Moscow while on an alleged spy mission .
A criminal investigation was launched against him on espionage charges carrying a punishment of anywhere from 10 to 20 years behind bars .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ defense team claims that the case against him was fabricated .

MOSCOW, April 17. /TASS/. The espionage case against US citizen Paul Whelan is conducted in strict compliance with Russia’s legislation, although some adjustments have been introduced due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Friday.
Zakharova’s statement came in response to US Ambassador to Russia John Sullivan’s remark about the need to release the suspect from the Lefortovo pretrial detention facility in Moscow, where he is currently being held.
"Regretfully, he [Whelan] himself delayed the process of familiarization with case materials," she said. "At present, due the novel coronavirus infection that has spread all over the world, some adjustments had to be introduced into the court proceedings, which began on March 30. Due to quarantine restrictions imposed in Moscow, the session will have to be postponed to a later date."
"The court proceedings are conducted in strict compliance with the Russian law, all the required procedural norms are observed," Zakharova added.
She said that Whelan is receiving all the necessary assistance from doctors of his detention facility and from other specialists when necessary.
United States Ambassador to Russia John Sullivan said in a statement on April 14 that the case against Whelan was "not only morally wrong and legally suspect but represents a significant obstacle in the U.S.-Russia bilateral relationship."
The Moscow City Court started hearing the criminal case against Whelan on Monday. In his statement, Sullivan noted that he "attempted to see Paul inside the courthouse before his scheduled hearing," but he was not allowed there. Earlier, the court’s press service told TASS that the ambassador was not allowed to enter the building over the coronavirus restrictions.
US citizen Paul Whelan, who also holds British, Canadian and Irish citizenship, is a global security chief at BorgWarner, a Michigan-based automotive components company. The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) said Whelan was detained on December 28, 2018 in Moscow while on an alleged spy mission. A criminal investigation was launched against him on espionage charges carrying a punishment of anywhere from 10 to 20 years behind bars.
Whelan pleads not guilty, while his defense team claims that the case against him was fabricated.


tass--2020-04-18--Russia embassy in US requests extra medical examination of jailed Russian pilot Yaroshenko

NEW YORK , April 17 .
/TASS/ .
Russia ’ s embassy to the United States has requested an extra medical examination of Russian pilot Viktor Yaroshenko , who is serving a 20-year prison term in a US prison , following reports that he has coronavirus symptoms , as follows from Ambassador Anatoly Antonov ’ s statement posed on the embassy ’ s Facebook account .
`` On our part , we have requested an additional medical examination .
We will insist on concrete measures to prevent his infection with COVID-19 , '' the ambassador said .
`` Russian diplomats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health condition of all Russian nationals who are kept at penitentiary establishments in the United States . ''
According to the Russian diplomat , `` during the latest medical examination Yaroshenko complained of nothing and felt well . ''
`` We will continue to demand Russian nationals be released on humanitarian reasons , '' Antonov noted , adding he had personally appealed to US Attorney General William Barr and Director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons Michael Carvajal .
`` I called on them to look at a possibility of repatriating Russian inmates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
After a conversation with Yaroshenko on Thursday , his attorney Alexei Tarasov told TASS his client `` has all the symptoms of a coronavirus infection . ''
`` He is sure absolutely all inmates have caught the coronavirus , '' Tarasov said .
Konstantin Yaroshenko was convicted in the United States in September 2011 and sentenced to 20 years in prison .
The pilot was clandestinely transferred to the United States from Liberia , where he had been arrested in May 2010 .
Agents from the US Drug Enforcement Administration operating under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intention to transport a large batch of cocaine .
He pleaded not guilty , condemning his arrest as a provocation and the whole case as an utter set-up .

NEW YORK, April 17. /TASS/. Russia’s embassy to the United States has requested an extra medical examination of Russian pilot Viktor Yaroshenko, who is serving a 20-year prison term in a US prison, following reports that he has coronavirus symptoms, as follows from Ambassador Anatoly Antonov’s statement posed on the embassy’s Facebook account.
"On our part, we have requested an additional medical examination. We will insist on concrete measures to prevent his infection with COVID-19," the ambassador said. "Russian diplomats are keeping a close eye on the health condition of all Russian nationals who are kept at penitentiary establishments in the United States."
According to the Russian diplomat, "during the latest medical examination Yaroshenko complained of nothing and felt well."
"We will continue to demand Russian nationals be released on humanitarian reasons," Antonov noted, adding he had personally appealed to US Attorney General William Barr and Director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons Michael Carvajal. "I called on them to look at a possibility of repatriating Russian inmates for humanitarian reasons," he said.
After a conversation with Yaroshenko on Thursday, his attorney Alexei Tarasov told TASS his client "has all the symptoms of a coronavirus infection." "He is sure absolutely all inmates have caught the coronavirus," Tarasov said.
Konstantin Yaroshenko was convicted in the United States in September 2011 and sentenced to 20 years in prison. The pilot was clandestinely transferred to the United States from Liberia, where he had been arrested in May 2010. Agents from the US Drug Enforcement Administration operating under cover allegedly exposed Yaroshenko’s criminal intention to transport a large batch of cocaine. He pleaded not guilty, condemning his arrest as a provocation and the whole case as an utter set-up.