tass--2020-01-21--China’s Wuhan curbs public events due to pneumonia outbreak

In accordance with the decision taken , certain tourist attractions — museums , temples and parks — either temporarily shut down or introduced special working hours .
Certain celebrations marking the upcoming Lunar New Year and nationwide weeklong holidays ( January 24-30 ) were postponed to a later date or cancelled altogether .
Some public spaces require their visitors to put on protective masks .
BEIJING , January 21 .
/TASS/ .
Authorities in the city of Wuhan in central China have introduced restrictions on holding public events .
All crowded gatherings `` that have no urgency '' will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says .
The key goal behind the decision is to reduce the number of people in the streets .
In light of this , the Chinese Civil Aviation Administration announced new rules saying that passengers cancelling their plans to travel to or from Wuhan will be eligible for a full refund without any penalties .
Similar measures were introduced for railway passengers .
On Tuesday , the number of people who died from the new form of pneumonia in China has risen to six .
According to the statistics published , most cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 291 ) where the disease originated .
Five more people are taken to hospitals in Beijing , 14 cases are identified in the southern Guangdong Province and two people are known to have contracted it in Shanghai .
Authorities have quarantined 54 more people across 14 regions of the country who are suspected of having the new pneumonia as they have exhibited similar symptoms .
On December 31 , Chinese authorities informed the World Health Organization about an outbreak of an unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhah in central China .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the infecting agent — coronavirus 2019-nCoV .
All cases of the suspected pneumonia were lab tested .
As a result , infecting agents of such diseases as flu , bird flu , severe acute respiratory syndrome ( SARS ) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome ( MERS ) were excluded from the list of possible pathogens .

In accordance with the decision taken, certain tourist attractions — museums, temples and parks — either temporarily shut down or introduced special working hours. Certain celebrations marking the upcoming Lunar New Year and nationwide weeklong holidays (January 24-30) were postponed to a later date or cancelled altogether. Some public spaces require their visitors to put on protective masks.
BEIJING, January 21. /TASS/. Authorities in the city of Wuhan in central China have introduced restrictions on holding public events. All crowded gatherings "that have no urgency" will be cancelled, the statement issued on Tuesday says.
The key goal behind the decision is to reduce the number of people in the streets. In light of this, the Chinese Civil Aviation Administration announced new rules saying that passengers cancelling their plans to travel to or from Wuhan will be eligible for a full refund without any penalties. Similar measures were introduced for railway passengers.
On Tuesday, the number of people who died from the new form of pneumonia in China has risen to six. According to the statistics published, most cases are concentrated in Wuhan (270 out of 291) where the disease originated. Five more people are taken to hospitals in Beijing, 14 cases are identified in the southern Guangdong Province and two people are known to have contracted it in Shanghai. Authorities have quarantined 54 more people across 14 regions of the country who are suspected of having the new pneumonia as they have exhibited similar symptoms.
On December 31, Chinese authorities informed the World Health Organization about an outbreak of an unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhah in central China. On January 7, Chinese experts identified the infecting agent — coronavirus 2019-nCoV. All cases of the suspected pneumonia were lab tested. As a result, infecting agents of such diseases as flu, bird flu, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) were excluded from the list of possible pathogens.


tass--2020-01-21--Court in St. Petersburg rules to place suspected recruiter of terrorists into custody

ST. PETERSBURG , January 21 .
/TASS/ .
A district court of St. Petersburg has ruled that suspect Isfandier Akramov accused of recruiting citizens of Tajikistan into a terrorist organization be taken into custody , the joint press office of St. Petersburg courts reported on Tuesday .
`` The Krasnogvardeisky district court has passed a ruling on choosing a measure of restraint for Isfandier Akramov in the form of placing him into custody , '' the press office said in a statement .
Under the court ’ s ruling , the suspect will remain in custody until March 19 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Russian Investigative Committee ’ s Main Investigation Department for St. Petersburg earlier reported that it had opened a criminal case against a 32-year-old man on counts of the crime stipulated by part 1.1 , article 205.1 of Russia ’ s Criminal Code ( `` Assistance to Terrorist Activity '' ) and the suspect was detained .
As the investigators say , during his stay in St. Petersburg , the suspect approved and encouraged the activity of an illegal armed formation of the Islamic State terrorist organization outlawed in Russia .
For @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than November 2015 , the detained person deliberately induced two citizens of Tajikistan born in 1990 to go to Syria to fight in the ranks of that terrorist organization , using persuasions and other forms of psychological pressure , the Investigative Committee said .

ST. PETERSBURG, January 21. /TASS/. A district court of St. Petersburg has ruled that suspect Isfandier Akramov accused of recruiting citizens of Tajikistan into a terrorist organization be taken into custody, the joint press office of St. Petersburg courts reported on Tuesday.
"The Krasnogvardeisky district court has passed a ruling on choosing a measure of restraint for Isfandier Akramov in the form of placing him into custody," the press office said in a statement.
Under the court’s ruling, the suspect will remain in custody until March 19, 2020. Akramov fully admitted his guilt.
The Russian Investigative Committee’s Main Investigation Department for St. Petersburg earlier reported that it had opened a criminal case against a 32-year-old man on counts of the crime stipulated by part 1.1, article 205.1 of Russia’s Criminal Code ("Assistance to Terrorist Activity") and the suspect was detained.
As the investigators say, during his stay in St. Petersburg, the suspect approved and encouraged the activity of an illegal armed formation of the Islamic State terrorist organization outlawed in Russia.
For the purpose of recruitment, no later than November 2015, the detained person deliberately induced two citizens of Tajikistan born in 1990 to go to Syria to fight in the ranks of that terrorist organization, using persuasions and other forms of psychological pressure, the Investigative Committee said.


tass--2020-01-21--Russian space firm to make Angosat-2 telecoms satellite for Angola by late 2021

MOSCOW , January 21 .
/TASS/ .
Russia ’ s Energia Space Rocket Corporation will make an Angosat-2 telecommunications satellite for Angola by the end of 2021 to replace its predecessor Angosat-1 that is out of operation , Deputy Head of the State Space Corporation Roscosmos for Relations with State Authorities Sergei Dubik said on Tuesday .
`` The Angosat-2 satellite is currently being manufactured .
According to the latest data , the planned term , as reported by Energia CEO Nikolai Sevastyanov , is the end of 2021 , '' the Roscosmos official said in the lower house of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ side was choosing the producer of the new satellite between two enterprises : the Energia Space Rocket Corporation and the Reshetnev Information Satellite Systems Company , he said .
`` As a result , they decided that Energia will be making the satellite , '' the Roscosmos official said .
Roscosmos Chief Dmitry Rogozin earlier said that the Angosat-2 would differ radically from its predecessor .
He noted that the issues of relations between the Energia Space Rocket Corporation and the Angolan customer were also tackled at the inter-governmental level .
The Angosat-1 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ carrier rocket with a Fregat booster from the Baikonur spaceport on December 26 , 2017 .
The contact with the satellite was lost on December 27 after its separation from the booster .
The attempts to restore the contact with the satellite were made until mid-January 2018 while it stayed within the area of direct radio visibility from the territory of Russia .
The Angolan side recognized the Angosat-1 telecoms satellite as unserviceable .
At the same time , Energia reported that Russia and Angola had agreed on making the Angosat-2 satellite instead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russian side will also provide C-and Ku-band frequency resources to Angola for communications while the second satellite is being manufactured .

MOSCOW, January 21. /TASS/. Russia’s Energia Space Rocket Corporation will make an Angosat-2 telecommunications satellite for Angola by the end of 2021 to replace its predecessor Angosat-1 that is out of operation, Deputy Head of the State Space Corporation Roscosmos for Relations with State Authorities Sergei Dubik said on Tuesday.
"The Angosat-2 satellite is currently being manufactured. According to the latest data, the planned term, as reported by Energia CEO Nikolai Sevastyanov, is the end of 2021," the Roscosmos official said in the lower house of Russia’s parliament.
The Angolan side was choosing the producer of the new satellite between two enterprises: the Energia Space Rocket Corporation and the Reshetnev Information Satellite Systems Company, he said.
"As a result, they decided that Energia will be making the satellite," the Roscosmos official said.
Roscosmos Chief Dmitry Rogozin earlier said that the Angosat-2 would differ radically from its predecessor. He noted that the issues of relations between the Energia Space Rocket Corporation and the Angolan customer were also tackled at the inter-governmental level.
Angosat-1 satellite
The Angosat-1 telecoms satellite was launched by a Zenit-2SB carrier rocket with a Fregat booster from the Baikonur spaceport on December 26, 2017. The contact with the satellite was lost on December 27 after its separation from the booster. The attempts to restore the contact with the satellite were made until mid-January 2018 while it stayed within the area of direct radio visibility from the territory of Russia.
The Angolan side recognized the Angosat-1 telecoms satellite as unserviceable. At the same time, Energia reported that Russia and Angola had agreed on making the Angosat-2 satellite instead of the lost space vehicle. The Russian side will also provide C-and Ku-band frequency resources to Angola for communications while the second satellite is being manufactured.


tass--2020-01-21--Opposition politician suggests forming national salvation government in Ukraine

KIEV , January 21 .
/TASS/ .
The number-one threat to Ukraine ’ s security is flagrant incompetence of the country 's government .
Only the national salvation government can steer the country out of the crisis , member of Ukraine ’ s Verkhovna Rada ( parliament ) and Chairman of the Political Council of the Opposition Platform - For life party Viktor Medvedchuk said on Tuesday .
`` Only the national salvation government will be able to steer the country out of the crisis that threatens to morph into economic collapse .
This should be a government formed not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president ( or the preferences of the external managers ) , but in accordance with professional criteria , '' the politician stressed .
He noted that `` an unbiased analysis of public statements made by the ministers and the top officials of the National Bank [ of Ukraine ] over the past six months makes one draw a conclusion that non-professionals determine the economic policy in the country .
The ‘ Goncharuk audio clips ’ once again confirm this indisputable fact , '' Medvedchuk stated .
Two audio clips allegedly featuring fragments of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ December 16 , 2019 , ahead of the upcoming meeting with President Vladimir Zelensky were earlier uploaded to YouTube .
The voice attributed to Goncharuk asked his associates to help him explain to the head of state why the hryvnia was becoming stronger and how that could affect the state budget .
Goncharuk allegedly admitted that he was an utterly ‘ ignorant ’ person as far as the economy was concerned and that the president had `` a very primitive understanding of economic processes . ''
After the scandal the Ukrainian prime minister @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rejected it .

KIEV, January 21. /TASS/. The number-one threat to Ukraine’s security is flagrant incompetence of the country's government. Only the national salvation government can steer the country out of the crisis, member of Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada (parliament) and Chairman of the Political Council of the Opposition Platform - For life party Viktor Medvedchuk said on Tuesday.
"Only the national salvation government will be able to steer the country out of the crisis that threatens to morph into economic collapse. This should be a government formed not in accordance with the preferences of the president (or the preferences of the external managers), but in accordance with professional criteria," the politician stressed.
He noted that "an unbiased analysis of public statements made by the ministers and the top officials of the National Bank [of Ukraine] over the past six months makes one draw a conclusion that non-professionals determine the economic policy in the country. The ‘Goncharuk audio clips’ once again confirm this indisputable fact," Medvedchuk stated.
Two audio clips allegedly featuring fragments of Goncharuk’s informal meeting held on December 16, 2019, ahead of the upcoming meeting with President Vladimir Zelensky were earlier uploaded to YouTube. The voice attributed to Goncharuk asked his associates to help him explain to the head of state why the hryvnia was becoming stronger and how that could affect the state budget. Goncharuk allegedly admitted that he was an utterly ‘ignorant’ person as far as the economy was concerned and that the president had "a very primitive understanding of economic processes."
After the scandal the Ukrainian prime minister announced his resignation, but the president rejected it.


tass--2020-01-21--Putin says Chaika has what it takes to tackle troubles plaguing Russia’s North Caucasus

MOSCOW , January 21./TASS/ .
Work in the North Caucasus Region involves settling many social issues , as well as @ @ @ @ @ President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday as he met with Yuri Chaika , to whom @ @ @ @ @ of the region ’ s presidential envoy .
`` It [ the region ] still @ @ @ @ @ on the social front , such as unemployment , which is higher than the national @ @ @ @ @ which regretfully does happen to exist , and that directly affects the standard of living @ @ @ @ @ public , '' Putin said .
The region has other problems as well , particularly @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Of course , a person of your caliber is needed there , with @ @ @ @ @ .
I am sure you will be able to handle this , '' the president @ @ @ @ @ , Putin suggested releasing Yuri Chaika from the post of Prosecutor General and nominated Deputy @ @ @ @ @ Igor Krasnov as the candidate for the post .

MOSCOW, January 21./TASS/. Work in the North Caucasus Region involves settling many social issues, as well as fighting corruption and terrorism, President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday as he met with Yuri Chaika, to whom he is offering the position of the region’s presidential envoy.
"It [the region] still faces a lot of problems on the social front, such as unemployment, which is higher than the national average, and corruption, which regretfully does happen to exist, and that directly affects the standard of living and the incomes of the public," Putin said. The region has other problems as well, particularly terrorism, the president stressed.
"Of course, a person of your caliber is needed there, with your knowledge and work experience. I am sure you will be able to handle this," the president told Chaika.
On Monday, Putin suggested releasing Yuri Chaika from the post of Prosecutor General and nominated Deputy Head of the Investigative Committee Igor Krasnov as the candidate for the post.


tass--2020-01-21--TASS, ANSA sign cooperation agreement

TASS, ANSA sign cooperation agreement

MOSCOW , January 21 .
/TASS/ .
Russian news agency TASS and Italian news agency ANSA have signed a cooperation @ @ @ @ @ January 20 , ANSA CEO Stefano De Alessandri visited Moscow .
He paid a visit @ @ @ @ @ with the work of the press center and the newsroom .
He met with TASS @ @ @ @ @ TASS First Deputy Director General Mikhail Gusman , after which they signed the cooperation agreement @ @ @ @ @ pleased with the agreement with ANSA .
We have always maintained friendly relations with this @ @ @ @ @ our people are very important , and I hope that our cooperation will continue to @ @ @ @ @ on signing the document .
With 22 correspondent offices in Italy and a presence in @ @ @ @ @ is the largest Italian news agency .
It was founded in 1945 .

MOSCOW, January 21. /TASS/. Russian news agency TASS and Italian news agency ANSA have signed a cooperation agreement in Moscow.
On January 20, ANSA CEO Stefano De Alessandri visited Moscow. He paid a visit to TASS, acquainting himself with the work of the press center and the newsroom. He met with TASS Director General Sergei Mikhailov and TASS First Deputy Director General Mikhail Gusman, after which they signed the cooperation agreement.
"I am very pleased with the agreement with ANSA. We have always maintained friendly relations with this agency. The relations between our people are very important, and I hope that our cooperation will continue to develop," Mikhailov said on signing the document.
With 22 correspondent offices in Italy and a presence in over 70 states, ANSA is the largest Italian news agency. It was founded in 1945.


tass--2020-01-21--Russian Health Ministry embarks on creating coronavirus vaccine

MOSCOW , January 21 .
/TASS/ .
The Russian Health Ministry has commenced work on developing a coronavirus vaccine and is in negotiations with Chinese scientists on obtaining biological material , in order to get a head start on creating the inoculation , Russian Deputy Health Minister Sergei Krayevoy told TASS Tuesday .
`` We have begun working [ on the vaccine ] , but we must solve several fundamental issues here .
First , we need an appropriate animal specimen .
Second , we need the living virus itself .
[ ... ] An effort is underway with our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ materials , '' the deputy minister said , adding that Russian Health Ministry is developing a diagnostic test system .
The Chinese authorities informed the World Health Organization ( WHO ) about the outbreak of an unknown disease in the city of Wuhan on December 31 , 2019 .
On January 7 , 2020 , Chinese specialists identified the new 2019-nCoV coronavirus as the culprit .
According to the National Health Committee of China , 291 people came down with the new virus by January 21 .
On Wednesday , WHO Director-General Tedros @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the Chinese pneumonia outbreak , caused by the new coronavirus type .

MOSCOW, January 21. /TASS/. The Russian Health Ministry has commenced work on developing a coronavirus vaccine and is in negotiations with Chinese scientists on obtaining biological material, in order to get a head start on creating the inoculation, Russian Deputy Health Minister Sergei Krayevoy told TASS Tuesday.
"We have begun working [on the vaccine], but we must solve several fundamental issues here. First, we need an appropriate animal specimen. Second, we need the living virus itself. [...] An effort is underway with our Chinese comrades to obtain the corresponding biological materials," the deputy minister said, adding that Russian Health Ministry is developing a diagnostic test system.
The Chinese authorities informed the World Health Organization (WHO) about the outbreak of an unknown disease in the city of Wuhan on December 31, 2019. On January 7, 2020, Chinese specialists identified the new 2019-nCoV coronavirus as the culprit. According to the National Health Committee of China, 291 people came down with the new virus by January 21.
On Wednesday, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus will conduct an emergency meeting on the Chinese pneumonia outbreak, caused by the new coronavirus type.


tass--2020-01-21--Russian testing system for Chinese coronavirus ready, says watchdog

MOSCOW , January 21 /TASS/ .
The Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Well-Being says it @ @ @ @ @ test system to identify the new coronavirus recently discovered in China , the watchdog ’ @ @ @ @ @ `` Rospotrebnadzor ’ s research organizations have already developed a diagnostic test system , which @ @ @ @ @ pinpoint the causative agent of the infection , and , by the end of this @ @ @ @ @ begin arriving at Russian laboratories .
The anti-epidemic tactics will be adjusted in accordance with @ @ @ @ @ the PRC and the World Health Organization , '' the message says .

MOSCOW, January 21 /TASS/. The Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Well-Being says it has already developed a diagnostic test system to identify the new coronavirus recently discovered in China, the watchdog’s press service said.
"Rospotrebnadzor’s research organizations have already developed a diagnostic test system, which makes it possible to quickly pinpoint the causative agent of the infection, and, by the end of this week, the system will begin arriving at Russian laboratories. The anti-epidemic tactics will be adjusted in accordance with the new information coming from the PRC and the World Health Organization," the message says.


tass--2020-01-21--Davos spy story created out of thin air — Russian embassy

The article says that two Russian diplomatic passport holders attracted the attention of police in the Swiss canton of Graubunden while visiting the city of Davos last summer .
According to the newspaper , their trip could have been related to the upcoming World Economic Forum , as its participants could become `` potential espionage targets . ''
Police said that the Russians had been detained for identification .
The article adds that one of them claimed to be a plumber .
According to police , no evidence was found pointing to the Russians ’ criminal activities .
The Russian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ incident , Embassy Secretary Stanislav Smirnov told TASS .
`` We proceed from the fact that in Russia , diplomatic passports are issued to high-ranking officials , '' he added .
According to Smirnov , as for reports about one of the Russians introducing himself as a plumber , it could have been `` a misplaced joke . ''
`` A thing to note is that the article cites a police statement , which points out that nothing suspicious was found .
The media has once again made an article out of nothing @ @ @ @ @ @ @

The article says that two Russian diplomatic passport holders attracted the attention of police in the Swiss canton of Graubunden while visiting the city of Davos last summer. According to the newspaper, their trip could have been related to the upcoming World Economic Forum, as its participants could become "potential espionage targets." Police said that the Russians had been detained for identification. The article adds that one of them claimed to be a plumber. According to police, no evidence was found pointing to the Russians’ criminal activities.
The Russian embassy was not informed of the Davos incident, Embassy Secretary Stanislav Smirnov told TASS. "We proceed from the fact that in Russia, diplomatic passports are issued to high-ranking officials," he added. According to Smirnov, as for reports about one of the Russians introducing himself as a plumber, it could have been "a misplaced joke." "A thing to note is that the article cites a police statement, which points out that nothing suspicious was found. The media has once again made an article out of nothing," the embassy secretary emphasized.


tass--2020-01-21--75% of Ukrainian citizens support free use of Russian language in private life

Some 15 % of Ukrainian citizens residing in the southern and eastern part of the country think that Russian can receive official status in the country , according to the poll KIEV , January 21 .
/TASS/ .
The Russian language should be used freely in the private life of Ukrainian citizens , while Ukrainian should remain the only state language , 75 % of Ukrainians polled by the Ilko Kucheriv Democratic Initiatives Foundation stated .
About 15 % of Ukrainian citizens residing in the southern and eastern part of the country think that Russian can receive official status in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state that it could become the second national language along with Ukrainian .
Less than 1 % of Western Ukraine residents support the previous opinion .
Over 80 % of those polled consider the Ukrainian language an important feature of the country ’ s independence .
According to 53 % of those interviewed , at least half of the Ukrainian media should be issued in Ukrainian .
`` The absolute majority of Ukrainians ( 80 % ) agree that the national leadership and all government officials must use the state language during work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ noting that the majority of citizens from all regions of Ukraine support this stance .
The poll was held on December 13-18 in all regions of Ukraine among over 2,000 respondents over 18 years of age .
The margin of error does not surpass 2.3 % .
On April 25 , 2019 , the Verkhovna Rada ( Ukrainian Parliament ) passed the law on provision of the functioning of the Ukrainian language as the state language .
On May 15 , it was signed by then outgoing President Pyotr Poroshenko .
The document @ @ @ @ @ @ @ language in all spheres of their lives .
The law will be enforced by `` language inspectors . ''
They will be allowed to attend any state agency ’ s meetings , request documents from civic associations and political parties , as well as impose fines .
The law is applicable to all spheres except for the private conversations and religious ceremonies .
The attempts to establish official multilingualism are declared `` the actions aimed at forcibly changing or overthrowing the constitutionally established state order . ''
At the same time , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ukrainian language '' is introduced , which is interpreted as `` a wrongful act that is equal to insulting Ukrainian state symbols and is punishable in accordance with law . ''
On December 6 , the Venice Commission recommended that Ukraine postpone the enactment of the law until the law on ethnic minorities was drafted .
The commission ’ s document highlighted the importance of seeing to it that the language issue does not become a source of interethnic tensions in Ukraine .
In December 2019 , during the press conference on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russian President Vladimir Putin stressed that Russia calls for equal rights for the Russian-speaking population of Ukraine .
`` I would like to note that 38 % of Ukrainian citizens consider themselves Russian-speaking , '' the president clarified .
`` Starting next year , as we know , all Russian-language schools will change their language to Ukrainian .
By the way , as far as I am aware , representatives of other schools — Hungarian , Romanian or Polish-speaking ones — will switch [ to Ukrainian ] only in 2023 .
As if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ukraine than Russian . ''
Putin added that this situation raises questions in Russia that have been left without answers so far .

Some 15% of Ukrainian citizens residing in the southern and eastern part of the country think that Russian can receive official status in the country, according to the poll
KIEV, January 21. /TASS/. The Russian language should be used freely in the private life of Ukrainian citizens, while Ukrainian should remain the only state language, 75% of Ukrainians polled by the Ilko Kucheriv Democratic Initiatives Foundation stated. About 15% of Ukrainian citizens residing in the southern and eastern part of the country think that Russian can receive official status in the country, while about 12% state that it could become the second national language along with Ukrainian. Less than 1% of Western Ukraine residents support the previous opinion. Over 80% of those polled consider the Ukrainian language an important feature of the country’s independence. According to 53% of those interviewed, at least half of the Ukrainian media should be issued in Ukrainian.
Read also Russia calls on Council of Europe to react to new Ukrainian language law
"The absolute majority of Ukrainians (80%) agree that the national leadership and all government officials must use the state language during work hours," the foundation added, noting that the majority of citizens from all regions of Ukraine support this stance. The poll was held on December 13-18 in all regions of Ukraine among over 2,000 respondents over 18 years of age. The margin of error does not surpass 2.3%. Ukrainian language law On April 25, 2019, the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian Parliament) passed the law on provision of the functioning of the Ukrainian language as the state language. On May 15, it was signed by then outgoing President Pyotr Poroshenko. The document stipulates that Ukrainians should use the Ukrainian language in all spheres of their lives. The law will be enforced by "language inspectors." They will be allowed to attend any state agency’s meetings, request documents from civic associations and political parties, as well as impose fines. The law is applicable to all spheres except for the private conversations and religious ceremonies. The attempts to establish official multilingualism are declared "the actions aimed at forcibly changing or overthrowing the constitutionally established state order." At the same time, a notion of "public humiliation of the Ukrainian language" is introduced, which is interpreted as "a wrongful act that is equal to insulting Ukrainian state symbols and is punishable in accordance with law."
Read also Ukrainian language quota for TV channels reaches 90%, according to law


tass--2020-01-21--Shipbuilders to build five more Project 23130 logistic support tankers for Russian Navy

`` As for the prospects of these vessels , the Russian defense minister made a decision in 2019 on building five more tankers of this Project , '' he said at the ceremony of hoisting the flag aboard the tanker Academician Pashin in the northwestern Murmansk Region .
MOSCOW , January 21 .
/TASS/ .
The Russian Navy will receive five more Project 23130 logistic support tankers similar to the vessel Academician Pashin that entered service with Russia ’ s Northern Fleet on January 21 , Chief of the Auxiliary Fleet Service in the Defense Ministry ’ s Transport Support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The same-type tanker will join the Northern Fleet in 2024 , he said , without specifying where the other four tankers of this Project would be delivered after they were built .
`` This tanker is meant not specially for the Northern Fleet but for the entire Navy .
All the tankers are universal and multi-functional and are intended for all the fleets .
They have an unlimited range of their operation and feature an ice-class hull , '' he added .
The new sea tanker Academician Pashin with improved technical characteristics entered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ logistics and rear support forces on Tuesday .
The solemn ceremony of hoisting the flag of the Russian Navy ’ s auxiliary fleet took place aboard the tanker at the Northern Fleet ’ s main naval base of Severomorsk with the participation of Fleet Commander Vice-Admiral Alexander Moiseyev .
The new logistics support vessel underwent trials in the Barents Sea where such combat ships as the heavy nuclear-powered missile cruiser Pyotr Veliki and the frigate Admiral Gorshkov provided assistance for the tanker ’ s trials at various stages .
During one of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ combat ships at a time .
The Project 23130 medium-sized sea-going supply tanker Academician Pashin has been built at the Nevsky Shipyard on order from Russia ’ s Defense Ministry .
The tanker is equipped with a diesel single-shaft propulsion unit and a bow thruster and is an Arc4 ice-class vessel .
The crew and passenger rooms and the service premises are located in the aft-end living superstructure .
The vessel is equipped with mechanisms for the transfer of liquid and dry cargoes while on the move at sea .
The vessel ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ types of cargoes .
The tanker is 130 meters long and 21 meters wide , develops a maximum speed of 16 knots and has an endurance of 60 days .
It displaces 9,000 tonnes and has a crew of 24 .

"As for the prospects of these vessels, the Russian defense minister made a decision in 2019 on building five more tankers of this Project," he said at the ceremony of hoisting the flag aboard the tanker Academician Pashin in the northwestern Murmansk Region.
MOSCOW, January 21. /TASS/. The Russian Navy will receive five more Project 23130 logistic support tankers similar to the vessel Academician Pashin that entered service with Russia’s Northern Fleet on January 21, Chief of the Auxiliary Fleet Service in the Defense Ministry’s Transport Support Department Sergei Yepifanov said on Tuesday.
The same-type tanker will join the Northern Fleet in 2024, he said, without specifying where the other four tankers of this Project would be delivered after they were built.
"This tanker is meant not specially for the Northern Fleet but for the entire Navy. All the tankers are universal and multi-functional and are intended for all the fleets. They have an unlimited range of their operation and feature an ice-class hull," he added.
The new sea tanker Academician Pashin with improved technical characteristics entered service with the Northern Fleet’s logistics and rear support forces on Tuesday.
The solemn ceremony of hoisting the flag of the Russian Navy’s auxiliary fleet took place aboard the tanker at the Northern Fleet’s main naval base of Severomorsk with the participation of Fleet Commander Vice-Admiral Alexander Moiseyev.
The new logistics support vessel underwent trials in the Barents Sea where such combat ships as the heavy nuclear-powered missile cruiser Pyotr Veliki and the frigate Admiral Gorshkov provided assistance for the tanker’s trials at various stages. During one of the tests, the new tanker refueled three combat ships at a time.
The Project 23130 medium-sized sea-going supply tanker Academician Pashin has been built at the Nevsky Shipyard on order from Russia’s Defense Ministry. The tanker is equipped with a diesel single-shaft propulsion unit and a bow thruster and is an Arc4 ice-class vessel. The crew and passenger rooms and the service premises are located in the aft-end living superstructure.
The vessel is equipped with mechanisms for the transfer of liquid and dry cargoes while on the move at sea. The vessel’s cargo system can simultaneously transport eight types of cargoes. The tanker is 130 meters long and 21 meters wide, develops a maximum speed of 16 knots and has an endurance of 60 days. It displaces 9,000 tonnes and has a crew of 24.


tass--2020-01-21--Russian senior health official brands China’s coronavirus as threat to Russians

According to him , article 7 of this bill `` precisely deals with key biological threats and dangers . ''
`` I can name a few from the list of these threats and illustrate it with examples from our ordinary life , '' he said .
MOSCOW , January 21 .
/TASS/ .
New form of coronavirus 2019-nCoV spreading in China poses a threat to the Russian population , Russian Deputy Health Minister Sergei Krayevoy said Tuesday when the Russian State Duma ( lower house ) was debating government bill on Russia ’ s biological security in its first reading @ @ @ @ @ @ @ … > is this infection developing in the People ’ s Republic of China caused by the coronavirus , '' the official confirmed .
On December 31 , Chinese authorities informed the World Health Organization about an outbreak of an unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhah in central China .
On January 7 , Chinese experts identified the infecting agent - coronavirus 2019-nCoV .
All cases of the suspected pneumonia were lab tested .
As a result , infecting agents of such diseases as flu , bird flu , severe acute respiratory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ respiratory syndrome ( MERS ) were excluded from the list of possible pathogens .
Chinese authorities have officially confirmed 291 cases of infection with six lethal cases .
The coronavirus was detected in Wuhan , Beijing , Shanghai , Shenzhen and other cities across the country .

According to him, article 7 of this bill "precisely deals with key biological threats and dangers." "I can name a few from the list of these threats and illustrate it with examples from our ordinary life," he said.
MOSCOW, January 21. /TASS/. New form of coronavirus 2019-nCoV spreading in China poses a threat to the Russian population, Russian Deputy Health Minister Sergei Krayevoy said Tuesday when the Russian State Duma (lower house) was debating government bill on Russia’s biological security in its first reading.
"The most vivid example <…> is this infection developing in the People’s Republic of China caused by the coronavirus," the official confirmed.
On December 31, Chinese authorities informed the World Health Organization about an outbreak of an unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhah in central China. On January 7, Chinese experts identified the infecting agent - coronavirus 2019-nCoV. All cases of the suspected pneumonia were lab tested. As a result, infecting agents of such diseases as flu, bird flu, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) were excluded from the list of possible pathogens.
Chinese authorities have officially confirmed 291 cases of infection with six lethal cases. The coronavirus was detected in Wuhan, Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen and other cities across the country.


tass--2020-01-21--Bats may be culprits for new Chinese coronavirus source, expert says

As yet other sources are not ruled out either , according to the scientist MOSCOW , January 21 .
/TASS/ .
The outbreak of a previously unknown coronavirus that erupted in China at the end of 2019 , may be linked to infections from bats and other wild animals , Georgy Bazykin , head of Molecular Evolution sector of Russian Academy of Sciences ’ Institute for Information Transmission Problems , told TASS .
`` This virus is most similar to pathogens extracted from bats .
This allows us to assume cautiously that the transmission of the virus from animals to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ link , as it happened with other coronavirus outbreaks , '' Bazykin said .
On December 31 , 2019 , the Chinese authorities notified the World Health Organization about the outbreak of a previously unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan .
On January 7 , Chinese specialists determined the 2019-nCoV coronavirus to be the culprit .
All suspected coronavirus cases underwent lab testing .
On January 21 , the National Health Commission of China announced that the number of those infected climbed to 291 .
Separate cases of the 2019-nCoV infection were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Japan , South Korea and Thailand .
Today , Chinese media reported that the number of deceased Wuhan residents has risen to six .
`` This time , our Chinese colleagues did a good job and obtained genome structure data fast .
The sequences were uploaded to the public , and their analysis indicates they are very similar to [ severe acute respiratory syndrome , SARS ] , or atypical pneumonia virus , which spread across the PRC and neighboring countries in 2002 .
It is important to understand that this is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' the scientist said .
According to Bazykin , the new virus comes from the same group as the infamous SARS and MERS viruses , which cause atypical pneumonia and the Middle East respiratory syndrome .
Over the past decade , both viruses took lives of several hundred people in the Middle East and East Asia , repeatedly causing epidemics , spreading via camels and poultry .
`` We can not rule out that the virus was transmitted not from bats but from other sources .
On the other hand , there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by pigs or other livestock .
We can only assume how it happened , '' Bazykin said .
Currently , scientists can not predict when a vaccine will be ready and when the spread of the disease will be stopped .
Epidemiologists are concerned that since the Lunar New Year in East Asia has arrived , this means that huge numbers of people from China and neighboring countries visit other cities and countries .
`` According to up-to-date , very approximate , estimations , the maximum number of infection hosts is about 1,700 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospitalized is much smaller .
We can only say this virus is transmitted between humans , but we don ’ t know how reliable this transmission is .
We can not totally rule out its importation into Russia .
During the atypical pneumonia period , we had one case of infection , '' the scientist said .
He was certain that simple methods of infection control , including thermal imagers at airports and in other public places , would help to contain this outbreak and prevent it from turning into a major epidemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other nations would be able to avoid the introduction of stricter measures that were taken during the previous battle against atypical pneumonia .

As yet other sources are not ruled out either, according to the scientist
MOSCOW, January 21. /TASS/. The outbreak of a previously unknown coronavirus that erupted in China at the end of 2019, may be linked to infections from bats and other wild animals, Georgy Bazykin, head of Molecular Evolution sector of Russian Academy of Sciences’ Institute for Information Transmission Problems, told TASS. "This virus is most similar to pathogens extracted from bats. This allows us to assume cautiously that the transmission of the virus from animals to humans happened via bats or some intermediate link, as it happened with other coronavirus outbreaks," Bazykin said. On December 31, 2019, the Chinese authorities notified the World Health Organization about the outbreak of a previously unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan. On January 7, Chinese specialists determined the 2019-nCoV coronavirus to be the culprit. All suspected coronavirus cases underwent lab testing.
Read also Watchdog warns Russians against visiting Chinese city over coronavirus outbreak
On January 21, the National Health Commission of China announced that the number of those infected climbed to 291. Separate cases of the 2019-nCoV infection were found in three other Asian nations: Japan, South Korea and Thailand. Today, Chinese media reported that the number of deceased Wuhan residents has risen to six. "This time, our Chinese colleagues did a good job and obtained genome structure data fast. The sequences were uploaded to the public, and their analysis indicates they are very similar to [severe acute respiratory syndrome, SARS], or atypical pneumonia virus, which spread across the PRC and neighboring countries in 2002. It is important to understand that this is not the same virus, albeit very similar," the scientist said. A new menace According to Bazykin, the new virus comes from the same group as the infamous SARS and MERS viruses, which cause atypical pneumonia and the Middle East respiratory syndrome. Over the past decade, both viruses took lives of several hundred people in the Middle East and East Asia, repeatedly causing epidemics, spreading via camels and poultry. "We cannot rule out that the virus was transmitted not from bats but from other sources. On the other hand, there are no indications that it was caused by pigs or other livestock. We can only assume how it happened," Bazykin said. Currently, scientists cannot predict when a vaccine will be ready and when the spread of the disease will be stopped. Epidemiologists are concerned that since the Lunar New Year in East Asia has arrived, this means that huge numbers of people from China and neighboring countries visit other cities and countries.
Read also WHO's Emergency Committee to convene on novel coronavirus on January 22


tass--2020-01-21--Belarus to purchase 30-40% of required oil volumes from Russia, says Lukashenko

`` Indeed , there is currently no full alternative to Russian oil supplies .
However , diversification is required .
It is necessary to inch toward buying 30-40 % of oil from the Russian Federation .
Around 30 % should be supplied from the Baltic states and around 30 % — via Ukraine , '' the BelTA news agency quoted Lukashenko as saying .
MINSK , January 21 .
/TASS/ .
The share of Russian oil supplies to Belarus should stand at 30-40 % of the required volumes , with the remaining volumes to be delivered from the Baltic countries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kazakhstan , President Alexander Lukashenko said at a meeting on raising the efficiency of petroleum products export on Tuesday .
Belarus is also considering the option of oil supplies from Kazakhstan , President said .
Meanwhile , Russia does not agree to transit Kazakhstan 's oil to the republic , he added .
Minsk and Moscow are currently negotiating deliveries of Russian hydrocarbons to Belarus .
Lukashenko discussed the issue in a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin on December 30-31 .
Following the talks , Lukashenko requested concluding contracts with Russian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ensure sustainable operation of two Belarusian refineries , though the documents were not signed by January 1 .
Belneftekhim reported on January 3 that Russian oil was not supplied .
Utilization of refineries has been reduced to the minimum technologically allowed level .
On January 4 , one-off contracts on supplies of oil to Belarusian refineries were resumed .
A source familiar with the talks told TASS earlier that the schedule of deliveries of Russian crude oil to Belarus was signed , with another 600,000 tonnes of oil planned to be supplied by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ January 20 , it became known that Belarus purchased 80,000 tonnes of oil from Norway .
A representative of Kazakhstan ’ s energy ministry said earlier that possible oil supplies to Belarus via the Druzhba system had been initiated by Minsk .
Meanwhile , the Kazakh side noted that Belarus should negotiate such transit supplies with Russia .

"Indeed, there is currently no full alternative to Russian oil supplies. However, diversification is required. It is necessary to inch toward buying 30-40% of oil from the Russian Federation. Around 30% should be supplied from the Baltic states and around 30% — via Ukraine," the BelTA news agency quoted Lukashenko as saying.
MINSK, January 21. /TASS/. The share of Russian oil supplies to Belarus should stand at 30-40% of the required volumes, with the remaining volumes to be delivered from the Baltic countries and Ukraine and, possibly, from Kazakhstan, President Alexander Lukashenko said at a meeting on raising the efficiency of petroleum products export on Tuesday.
Belarus is also considering the option of oil supplies from Kazakhstan, President said. Meanwhile, Russia does not agree to transit Kazakhstan's oil to the republic, he added.
Minsk and Moscow are currently negotiating deliveries of Russian hydrocarbons to Belarus. Lukashenko discussed the issue in a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin on December 30-31. Following the talks, Lukashenko requested concluding contracts with Russian companies on oil supplies in 2020 to ensure sustainable operation of two Belarusian refineries, though the documents were not signed by January 1.
Belneftekhim reported on January 3 that Russian oil was not supplied. Utilization of refineries has been reduced to the minimum technologically allowed level. On January 4, one-off contracts on supplies of oil to Belarusian refineries were resumed. A source familiar with the talks told TASS earlier that the schedule of deliveries of Russian crude oil to Belarus was signed, with another 600,000 tonnes of oil planned to be supplied by the end of the month. On January 20, it became known that Belarus purchased 80,000 tonnes of oil from Norway.
A representative of Kazakhstan’s energy ministry said earlier that possible oil supplies to Belarus via the Druzhba system had been initiated by Minsk. Meanwhile, the Kazakh side noted that Belarus should negotiate such transit supplies with Russia.


tass--2020-01-21--Libya’s Haftar eyes military solution to Libyan conflict, says Turkish minister

`` In spite of all our effort , Haftar did not sign ceasefire [ agreement ] in Moscow .
The fact that Haftar did not express any support [ at the international conference on Libya ] in Berlin also raised everyone ’ s eyebrows .
Currently , his position points out that he is looking for a military solution .
Haftar should reach political settlement .
All our efforts as Turkey are aimed at that , '' he stressed .
ANKARA , January 21 .
/TASS/ .
The position of Libyan National Army ( LNA ) Commander , Field Marshal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a military solution to the Libyan conflict , Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told NTV on Tuesday .
The international high-level conference on Libya took place on January 19 in the German capital , with at least ten heads of state and government attending the event including Russian President Vladimir Putin .
Also present at the talks were UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres , Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan , French President Emmanuel Macron , British Prime Minister Boris Johnson , US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo , as well as representatives of Algeria @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and China .
Moreover , Berlin also welcomed Prime Minister of the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord ( GNA ) , Fayez Sarraj , and Libyan National Army ( LNA ) Commander Khalifa Haftar .
The conference ’ s final communique includes a call to ceasefire and commitment to refrain from intervening into Libya ’ s affairs , while it proposes creating a single government and launching reforms to restore statehood that was demolished by NATO almost ten years ago .
The parties to the conflict also agreed to establish a special commission @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has two parallel bodies of executive power : the internationally recognized Government of National Accord ( GNA ) headed by al-Sarraj , and Abdullah Abdurrahman al-Thani ’ s interim government , operating in the country ’ s east together with parliament and supported by Haftar ’ s LNA .

"In spite of all our effort, Haftar did not sign ceasefire [agreement] in Moscow. The fact that Haftar did not express any support [at the international conference on Libya] in Berlin also raised everyone’s eyebrows. Currently, his position points out that he is looking for a military solution. Haftar should reach political settlement. All our efforts as Turkey are aimed at that," he stressed.
ANKARA, January 21. /TASS/. The position of Libyan National Army (LNA) Commander, Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar indicates that he is backing a military solution to the Libyan conflict, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told NTV on Tuesday.
The international high-level conference on Libya took place on January 19 in the German capital, with at least ten heads of state and government attending the event including Russian President Vladimir Putin. Also present at the talks were UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, as well as representatives of Algeria, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and China. Moreover, Berlin also welcomed Prime Minister of the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA), Fayez Sarraj, and Libyan National Army (LNA) Commander Khalifa Haftar.
The conference’s final communique includes a call to ceasefire and commitment to refrain from intervening into Libya’s affairs, while it proposes creating a single government and launching reforms to restore statehood that was demolished by NATO almost ten years ago. The parties to the conflict also agreed to establish a special commission overseeing the ceasefire.
Currently, Libya has two parallel bodies of executive power: the internationally recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) headed by al-Sarraj, and Abdullah Abdurrahman al-Thani’s interim government, operating in the country’s east together with parliament and supported by Haftar’s LNA.


tass--2020-01-21--Putin expects senate to back appointment of new prosecutor general

`` I hope that the upper house will vote in your favor tomorrow , '' Putin said , addressing Krasnov .
MOSCOW , January 21 .
/TASS/ .
Russian President Vladimir Putin is hopeful that the Federation Council ( the upper house of parliament ) will back the appointment of Igor Krasnov as the country ’ s prosecutor general , as he himself said at a meeting with Krasnov and the current prosecutor general , Yuri Chaika .
He pointed to the successes that the prosecutor general ’ s office had achieved in the previous years , particularly in ensuring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fight against corruption .
`` I would like you to maintain the trend , '' Putin told Krasnov .
The president thanked Chaika for his work as prosecutor general , emphasizing that since his appointment in 2006 , much had been done to strengthen law and order and ensure the unified application of laws in the country .
The president added that he had put forward initiatives aimed making the activities of the prosecutor general ’ s office even more focused .
He was hopeful that the State Duma ( the lower house @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

"I hope that the upper house will vote in your favor tomorrow," Putin said, addressing Krasnov.
MOSCOW, January 21. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin is hopeful that the Federation Council (the upper house of parliament) will back the appointment of Igor Krasnov as the country’s prosecutor general, as he himself said at a meeting with Krasnov and the current prosecutor general, Yuri Chaika.
He pointed to the successes that the prosecutor general’s office had achieved in the previous years, particularly in ensuring the implementation of social laws and the fight against corruption. "I would like you to maintain the trend," Putin told Krasnov.
The president thanked Chaika for his work as prosecutor general, emphasizing that since his appointment in 2006, much had been done to strengthen law and order and ensure the unified application of laws in the country.
The president added that he had put forward initiatives aimed making the activities of the prosecutor general’s office even more focused. He was hopeful that the State Duma (the lower house of parliament) would support the initiatives.


tass--2020-01-21--Haikou's revenue from tourism up by 7.55% in 2019 reaching $4.6 bln

HAIKOU , January 21 .
/TASS/ .
Haikou 's revenue from tourism sector in 2019 increased by 7.55 % to 32.06 billion yuan ( about $ 4.63 billion ) .
According to the Hainan Daily , over this period , 28.2 million tourists visited the city , which is by 5.6 % more than in 2018 .
In 2020 , the Haikou authorities intend to receive about 30.46 million tourists ( an increase of about 8 % ) , the tourism revenue target for this year stands at 34.6 billion yuan ( about $ 4.99 billion , an increase of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has already planned a number of major international events , including the national beach volleyball championship , a series of music concerts and other events this year .
The authorities are also getting ready to launch eight direct flights between Haikou and foreign cities , as well as actively promote Hainan in Japan , the Republic of Korea , Australia and Southeast Asia .
The Haikou authorities intend to renovate one of the main tourist attractions of the regional capital - the old Qilou Street , which , thanks to a number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , has long been the city 's distinctive landmark .
Moreover , the authorities intend to develop beach vacation tours , sailing and sea fishing .
In 2019 , a total of over 83 million Chinese and foreign tourists visited the Hainan Province in 2019 .
The corresponding figures exceeded the tourist flow to the province by 9 % in 2018 .
The total number of foreign tourists who visited the island in 2019 increased by 12.4 % to 1.42 million people .
In April 2018 , President Xi Jinping said that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in globalization and to draw foreign investors to the island province .
By 2050 , according to the authorities , the island should become a unique international cluster with an advanced economy , developed tourism , top-notch scientific , technical and financial potential , and modern medicine .
The branches of the best universities and offices of the most powerful corporations in the world will be located on the Island of Hainan .
By 2025 , the Chinese government intends to create an `` international center for tourism and consumption '' on Hainan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the `` Eastern Hawaii '' with their unique natural landscapes , thick rainforests and great climate will establish a developed network of hotels , which blend perfectly with white sandy beaches stretching along the coastline .
The combination of an exotic subtropical nature and a modern eco-friendly infrastructure will boost tourist inflow to the island from the most distant parts of the world .

HAIKOU, January 21. /TASS/. Haikou's revenue from tourism sector in 2019 increased by 7.55% to 32.06 billion yuan (about $ 4.63 billion). According to the Hainan Daily, over this period, 28.2 million tourists visited the city, which is by 5.6% more than in 2018.
In 2020, the Haikou authorities intend to receive about 30.46 million tourists (an increase of about 8%), the tourism revenue target for this year stands at 34.6 billion yuan (about $ 4.99 billion, an increase of 8%).
The local government has already planned a number of major international events, including the national beach volleyball championship, a series of music concerts and other events this year. The authorities are also getting ready to launch eight direct flights between Haikou and foreign cities, as well as actively promote Hainan in Japan, the Republic of Korea, Australia and Southeast Asia.
The Haikou authorities intend to renovate one of the main tourist attractions of the regional capital - the old Qilou Street, which, thanks to a number of buildings designed in the European colonial style, has long been the city's distinctive landmark. Moreover, the authorities intend to develop beach vacation tours, sailing and sea fishing.
In 2019, a total of over 83 million Chinese and foreign tourists visited the Hainan Province in 2019. The corresponding figures exceeded the tourist flow to the province by 9% in 2018. The total number of foreign tourists who visited the island in 2019 increased by 12.4% to 1.42 million people.
In April 2018, President Xi Jinping said that the Chinese authorities intend to actively involve Hainan in globalization and to draw foreign investors to the island province. By 2050, according to the authorities, the island should become a unique international cluster with an advanced economy, developed tourism, top-notch scientific, technical and financial potential, and modern medicine. The branches of the best universities and offices of the most powerful corporations in the world will be located on the Island of Hainan.
By 2025, the Chinese government intends to create an "international center for tourism and consumption" on Hainan. In order to do so, the "Eastern Hawaii" with their unique natural landscapes, thick rainforests and great climate will establish a developed network of hotels, which blend perfectly with white sandy beaches stretching along the coastline. The combination of an exotic subtropical nature and a modern eco-friendly infrastructure will boost tourist inflow to the island from the most distant parts of the world.


tass--2020-01-21--Putin offers top prosecutor position of envoy to North Caucasian Federal District

MOSCOW , January 21./TASS/ .
Russian Prosecutor General Yuri Chaika can take up the position of the president ’ s @ @ @ @ @ Federal District , Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday .
`` Chaika has received @ @ @ @ @ envoy to the North Caucasus Federal District , '' Peskov told journalists , saying that @ @ @ @ @ signed yet .
On Tuesday , President Putin met with Chaika and Igor Krasnov , @ @ @ @ @ Russia ’ s prosecutor general .
On Monday , Putin suggested dismissing Prosecutor General Yuri @ @ @ @ @ of the Investigative Committee Igor Krasnov as a candidate for the post , the presidential @ @ @ @ @ .

MOSCOW, January 21./TASS/. Russian Prosecutor General Yuri Chaika can take up the position of the president’s envoy to the North Caucasus Federal District, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday.
"Chaika has received an offer to become presidential envoy to the North Caucasus Federal District," Peskov told journalists, saying that the decree has not been signed yet.
On Tuesday, President Putin met with Chaika and Igor Krasnov, candidate for the post of Russia’s prosecutor general.
On Monday, Putin suggested dismissing Prosecutor General Yuri Chaika and nominated Deputy Head of the Investigative Committee Igor Krasnov as a candidate for the post, the presidential press service reported on Monday.


tass--2020-01-21--Russia to live-fire S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems during drills in April

`` As part of the third stage of tactical drills at the Ashuluk state firing range ( the Astrakhan Region ) in April , the combat teams of an anti-aircraft missile regiment will live-fire surface-to-air missiles against the targets simulating technical characteristics of modern and future air attack weapons of a probable enemy , '' the press office said in a statement .
MOSCOW , January 21 .
/TASS/ .
The combat teams of S-400 surface-to-air missile systems will hold a live-fire exercise at the Ashuluk training range in the southern Astrakhan Region in April , the press office of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The combat teams of S-400 air defense systems based in the town of Gatchina in the northwestern Leningrad Region have started preparations for the drills .
During the first stage of the two-week preparations , the anti-aircraft gunners will be required to accomplish assignments within specified time limits in the basic disciplines of missile firing , technical , tactical and special training .
After that , they will switch to theoretical and practical training for the firing exercise in specialized classrooms and directly on the missile system and at the system ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concluding stage of the preparations , the personnel will have to be cleared for independent operations , which includes accomplishing combat training assignments within required time limits , passing theoretical tests of the knowledge of firing guidelines and rules and conducting a notional air defense battle as a combat team , '' the statement runs .
The S-400 ‘ Triumf ’ is the most advanced long-range air defense missile system that went into service in Russia in 2007 .
It is designed to destroy aircraft , cruise and ballistic missiles , including medium-range @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against ground installations .
The S-400 can engage targets at a distance of 400 km and at an altitude of up to 35 km .

"As part of the third stage of tactical drills at the Ashuluk state firing range (the Astrakhan Region) in April, the combat teams of an anti-aircraft missile regiment will live-fire surface-to-air missiles against the targets simulating technical characteristics of modern and future air attack weapons of a probable enemy," the press office said in a statement.
MOSCOW, January 21. /TASS/. The combat teams of S-400 surface-to-air missile systems will hold a live-fire exercise at the Ashuluk training range in the southern Astrakhan Region in April, the press office of the Western Military District reported on Tuesday.
The combat teams of S-400 air defense systems based in the town of Gatchina in the northwestern Leningrad Region have started preparations for the drills. During the first stage of the two-week preparations, the anti-aircraft gunners will be required to accomplish assignments within specified time limits in the basic disciplines of missile firing, technical, tactical and special training.
After that, they will switch to theoretical and practical training for the firing exercise in specialized classrooms and directly on the missile system and at the system’s command post.
"At the concluding stage of the preparations, the personnel will have to be cleared for independent operations, which includes accomplishing combat training assignments within required time limits, passing theoretical tests of the knowledge of firing guidelines and rules and conducting a notional air defense battle as a combat team," the statement runs.
The S-400 ‘Triumf’ is the most advanced long-range air defense missile system that went into service in Russia in 2007. It is designed to destroy aircraft, cruise and ballistic missiles, including medium-range weapons, and can also be used against ground installations. The S-400 can engage targets at a distance of 400 km and at an altitude of up to 35 km.


tass--2020-01-21--‘Don’t meddle’: Speaker slams foreign media reports on dissolving Russia’s lower house

MOSCOW , January 21 .
/TASS/ .
Reports by various foreign media outlets about the possible early dissolution of the @ @ @ @ @ house of parliament ) amount to interference in Russia ’ s domestic affairs , and @ @ @ @ @ State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said on Tuesday .
At the beginning of the plenary @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Liberal Democratic Party Vladimir Zhirinovsky fumed at foreign media reports about the possible @ @ @ @ @ of the Russian parliament and called for putting an end to such conversations .
`` @ @ @ @ @ absolutely right , '' Volodin concurred .
`` Such information was leaked by foreign news @ @ @ @ @ they began spreading this information , some of our media outlets picked up on the @ @ @ @ @ . ''
`` We believe that meddling in the affairs of sovereign states is inadmissible @ @ @ @ @ in their affairs — in America , Britain , or in other countries , and @ @ @ @ @ what ’ s going on here , '' he stressed .

MOSCOW, January 21. /TASS/. Reports by various foreign media outlets about the possible early dissolution of the Russian State Duma (lower house of parliament) amount to interference in Russia’s domestic affairs, and such actions are unacceptable, State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said on Tuesday.
At the beginning of the plenary session, leader of Russia’s Liberal Democratic Party Vladimir Zhirinovsky fumed at foreign media reports about the possible dissolution of the lower house of the Russian parliament and called for putting an end to such conversations.
"Vladimir Volfovich, you are absolutely right," Volodin concurred. "Such information was leaked by foreign news agencies. As soon as they began spreading this information, some of our media outlets picked up on the topic without citing any sources."
"We believe that meddling in the affairs of sovereign states is inadmissible. We do not interfere in their affairs — in America, Britain, or in other countries, and they should not meddle in what’s going on here," he stressed.


tass--2020-01-21--Belarus cancels suspension of petroleum products export

MINSK , January 21 .
/TASS/ .
Belarus has canceled suspension of petroleum products exports , head of Belneftekhim concern @ @ @ @ @ .
`` That was a short period of suspension .
The suspension has been cancelled @ @ @ @ @ reached the volumes of export envisioned by the business plan though .
Export itself is @ @ @ @ @ '' the BelTA news agency quoted Rybakov as saying .
`` The closest markets will @ @ @ @ @ of course , whereas further supplies — through ports — will depend on the environment @ @ @ @ @ and on global prices of petroleum products .
Though the most efficient markets are the @ @ @ @ @ , on which we will focus in the first place , '' he stated .
@ @ @ @ @ agreement with Russian oil companies on terms of oil supplies starting January 1 , 2020 @ @ @ @ @ year .
Refineries in Novopolotsk and Mozyr operate with minimum utilization now .
Amid this @ @ @ @ @ export of petroleum products to ensure the demands of the domestic market .

MINSK, January 21. /TASS/. Belarus has canceled suspension of petroleum products exports, head of Belneftekhim concern Andrei Rybakov said on Tuesday.
"That was a short period of suspension. The suspension has been cancelled. We have not yet reached the volumes of export envisioned by the business plan though. Export itself is not prohibited, however," the BelTA news agency quoted Rybakov as saying.
"The closest markets will be the most efficient, of course, whereas further supplies — through ports — will depend on the environment of the target market, and on global prices of petroleum products. Though the most efficient markets are the national and the closest ones, on which we will focus in the first place," he stated.
Belarus failed to reach an agreement with Russian oil companies on terms of oil supplies starting January 1, 2020 by the end of last year. Refineries in Novopolotsk and Mozyr operate with minimum utilization now. Amid this background, Belarus has suspended export of petroleum products to ensure the demands of the domestic market.


tass--2020-01-21--Polish Foreign Ministry hopes to renew dialogue between Russian and Polish historians

`` At the same time , we would like to stress that some of these documents [ published by the @ @ @ @ @ occasion of the 75th anniversary of Warsaw ’ s liberation from Nazi rule on January @ @ @ @ @ been declassified before .
There is no new information .
However , we hope that @ @ @ @ @ demonstrate readiness for the renewal of open dialogue between historians from both sides , '' @ @ @ @ @ Earlier , the Russian Ministry of Defense declassified archive documents on the 75th anniversary of @ @ @ @ @ Nazi rule by Soviet soldiers .
The documents demonstrate the atrocities of Nazi soldiers in @ @ @ @ @ of the Red Army , which lost about 600,000 people during the liberation of Poland @ @ @ @ @ warm welcome of Soviet soldiers by Polish citizens .
The documents also inform of the @ @ @ @ @ from the Soviet Union .

"At the same time, we would like to stress that some of these documents [published by the Russian Defense Ministry on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of Warsaw’s liberation from Nazi rule on January 17 — TASS] had been declassified before. There is no new information. However, we hope that they [the documents] demonstrate readiness for the renewal of open dialogue between historians from both sides," the press service stressed.
Earlier, the Russian Ministry of Defense declassified archive documents on the 75th anniversary of Warsaw’s liberation from Nazi rule by Soviet soldiers. The documents demonstrate the atrocities of Nazi soldiers in concentration camps, the heroism of the Red Army, which lost about 600,000 people during the liberation of Poland, as well as the warm welcome of Soviet soldiers by Polish citizens. The documents also inform of the economic aid received by Poland from the Soviet Union.


tass--2020-01-21--Kremlin says working group on constitutional amendment fulfilling its duties

MOSCOW , January 21 .
/TASS/ .
Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov believes that the constitutional amendment ’ s working group is performing its duties .
`` There were blueprints , proposals presented , and this group includes people from absolutely diverse walks of life , so its membership is broad , '' the Kremlin spokesman said , talking to journalists Tuesday about the working group .
He reiterated that the working group had held two meetings .
`` It is performing its role , '' Peskov insisted .
In the meantime , Peskov remained mum on who and when will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` I can not answer this question yet , '' Peskov admitted .
On January 20 , working group co-chairman Pavel Krashennikov told journalists that after the amendments are introduced , the State Council will discuss both foreign and domestic issues and a separate law will lay out its functions .
On January 15 , President Putin signed a decree to create the working group to draw up amendments to the Russian Constitution and approved its membership .
The group included 75 politicians , lawmakers , academics and social activists .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Council Committee on Constitutional Legislation and State Building Andrey Klishas ; Chairman of the State Duma Committee on State Building and Legislation Pavel Krasheninnikov ; and Director of the Institute of Legislation and Comparative Law under the Government of the Russian Federation and the Vice-President of the Russian Academy of Sciences Taliya Khabriyeva .
The working group co-chairs also represent the head of state during the State Duma ’ s review of the constitutional amendment bill introduced by Putin on January 15 .

MOSCOW, January 21. /TASS/. Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov believes that the constitutional amendment’s working group is performing its duties.
"There were blueprints, proposals presented, and this group includes people from absolutely diverse walks of life, so its membership is broad," the Kremlin spokesman said, talking to journalists Tuesday about the working group.
He reiterated that the working group had held two meetings.
"It is performing its role," Peskov insisted.
In the meantime, Peskov remained mum on who and when will prepare the bill on the State Council.
"I cannot answer this question yet," Peskov admitted.
On January 20, working group co-chairman Pavel Krashennikov told journalists that after the amendments are introduced, the State Council will discuss both foreign and domestic issues and a separate law will lay out its functions.
On January 15, President Putin signed a decree to create the working group to draw up amendments to the Russian Constitution and approved its membership. The group included 75 politicians, lawmakers, academics and social activists. It is co-chaired by Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on Constitutional Legislation and State Building Andrey Klishas; Chairman of the State Duma Committee on State Building and Legislation Pavel Krasheninnikov; and Director of the Institute of Legislation and Comparative Law under the Government of the Russian Federation and the Vice-President of the Russian Academy of Sciences Taliya Khabriyeva.
The working group co-chairs also represent the head of state during the State Duma’s review of the constitutional amendment bill introduced by Putin on January 15.


tass--2020-01-21--Russian Navy ships, Japanese destroyer carry out joint maneuvering in drills

`` A group of the Baltic Fleet combat ships comprising the guard ship Yaroslav Mudry , the tanker Yelnya and the sea tug Viktor Konetsky , and also the destroyer Harusame of Japan ’ s Maritime Self-Defense Force practiced the elements of joint maneuvering , using , in particular , flashing signal communications in the nighttime , and held a flash light exchange of information between the ships at night , '' the press office said in a statement .
KALININGRAD , January 21 .
/TASS/ .
Russian Navy ships and a destroyer of Japan ’ s Maritime Self-Defense Force @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Arabian Sea , the press office of Russia ’ s Baltic Fleet reported on Tuesday .
Also , a briefing for representatives of Japan ’ s Maritime Self-Defense Force was held aboard the Russian guard ship Yaroslav Mudry .
During the briefing , the Russian and Japanese sides specified and agreed the action plan .
In addition , the Japanese sailors viewed the Russian ship ’ s helicopter pad and its aviation guidance and control post to further practice the episode of exchanging helicopters , the statement says .
As part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Arabian Sea , the Russian Navy guard ship and the Japanese destroyer conducted an operation to free a vessel notionally seized by pirates , the Baltic Fleet informed .
`` The Baltic Fleet sea tanker Yelnya simulated the pirate ship and its crewmembers — the pirates , '' the press office issued a statement .
Under the drills ’ scenario , the groups for freeing the vessel and rendering the notional pirates harmless surrounded the seized ship .
The Japanese destroyer Harusame and the Russian guard ship Yaroslav Mudry assumed positions for providing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ After suppressing the hostile fire , the Russian and Japanese anti-terror groups stormed the tanker and rendered the surviving pirates harmless .
Later , the Baltic Fleet marine infantry and the Japanese sailors jointly inspected the vessel freed from the pirates .
The Russian and Japanese naval sailors will also hold joint firings of artillery guns and large-caliber machine-guns against a sea target set up by the crew of the sea tug Viktor Konetsky , another Russian ship participating in the drills .
Naval aviation helicopters will make cross flights from the Russian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the decks .
The Russian Navy ships and the destroyer of Japan ’ s Maritime Self-Defense Force started their anti-piracy drills in the Arabian Sea on January 20 .
In one of the areas of the Arabian Sea , they will practice inspecting and freeing a vessel notionally seized by pirates and landing on the ships ’ decks .
The Russian Baltic Fleet and the Japanese navy are holding their drills for the first time .
The guard ship Yaroslav Mudry , the tanker Yelnya and the sea tug Viktor Konetsky embarked on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s main naval base of Baltiysk in the westernmost Kaliningrad Region on October 1 and set off for the Indian Ocean .
In December , the warships took part in the naval phase of the Indra 2019 Russian-Indian drills and in the Maritime Security Belt Russia-China-Iran naval maneuvers .

"A group of the Baltic Fleet combat ships comprising the guard ship Yaroslav Mudry, the tanker Yelnya and the sea tug Viktor Konetsky, and also the destroyer Harusame of Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force practiced the elements of joint maneuvering, using, in particular, flashing signal communications in the nighttime, and held a flash light exchange of information between the ships at night," the press office said in a statement.
KALININGRAD, January 21. /TASS/. Russian Navy ships and a destroyer of Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force practiced joint maneuvering during joint anti-piracy drills in the Arabian Sea, the press office of Russia’s Baltic Fleet reported on Tuesday.
Also, a briefing for representatives of Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force was held aboard the Russian guard ship Yaroslav Mudry. During the briefing, the Russian and Japanese sides specified and agreed the action plan. In addition, the Japanese sailors viewed the Russian ship’s helicopter pad and its aviation guidance and control post to further practice the episode of exchanging helicopters, the statement says.
Freeing vessel
As part of the joint naval maneuvers in the Arabian Sea, the Russian Navy guard ship and the Japanese destroyer conducted an operation to free a vessel notionally seized by pirates, the Baltic Fleet informed.
"The Baltic Fleet sea tanker Yelnya simulated the pirate ship and its crewmembers — the pirates," the press office issued a statement.
Under the drills’ scenario, the groups for freeing the vessel and rendering the notional pirates harmless surrounded the seized ship. The Japanese destroyer Harusame and the Russian guard ship Yaroslav Mudry assumed positions for providing fire support for the assault groups.
After suppressing the hostile fire, the Russian and Japanese anti-terror groups stormed the tanker and rendered the surviving pirates harmless. Later, the Baltic Fleet marine infantry and the Japanese sailors jointly inspected the vessel freed from the pirates.
The Russian and Japanese naval sailors will also hold joint firings of artillery guns and large-caliber machine-guns against a sea target set up by the crew of the sea tug Viktor Konetsky, another Russian ship participating in the drills. Naval aviation helicopters will make cross flights from the Russian and Japanese ships with the landing on the decks.
The Russian Navy ships and the destroyer of Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force started their anti-piracy drills in the Arabian Sea on January 20. In one of the areas of the Arabian Sea, they will practice inspecting and freeing a vessel notionally seized by pirates and landing on the ships’ decks. The Russian Baltic Fleet and the Japanese navy are holding their drills for the first time.
The guard ship Yaroslav Mudry, the tanker Yelnya and the sea tug Viktor Konetsky embarked on their long-distance deployment from the Baltic Fleet’s main naval base of Baltiysk in the westernmost Kaliningrad Region on October 1 and set off for the Indian Ocean. In December, the warships took part in the naval phase of the Indra 2019 Russian-Indian drills and in the Maritime Security Belt Russia-China-Iran naval maneuvers.


tass--2020-01-21--Watchdog warns Russians against visiting Chinese city over coronavirus outbreak

`` Rospotrebnadzor recommends planning trips to China in advance and refraining from trips to Wuhan until the situation stabilizes there , '' it said , noting that the service was closely monitoring the situation .
MOSCOW , January 21 .
/TASS/ .
The Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Well-Being ( Rospotrebnadzor ) has recommended tourists going to China to observe precautionary measures and refrain from trips to Wuhan over the outbreak of a new coronavirus there , the watchdog ’ s press service said .
Those Russians traveling to China should check the epidemiological situation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ markets where animals and seafood are sold as well as zoos and other animal events .
Besides , they should drink only bottled water , eat heat-treated meals and wash hands after visiting places of mass gatherings and before eating food .
In case there are the first signs of a suspected disease , they should seek medical assistance .
When visiting medical facilities in Russia , they should inform doctors about the time and place where they had stayed in China .
On December 31 , the Chinese authorities informed the World @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new type of pneumonia in the city of Wuhan in central China .
On January 7 , Chinese specialists determined the virus behind the infection - coronavirus 2019-nCoV .
All suspected cases of new pneumonia were tested for the coronavirus .
Chinese authorities confirmed on Tuesday 291 cases of infection with coronavirus and six deaths .
The virus has been registered in Wuhan , Beijing , Shanghai , Shenzhen and other cities across the country .

"Rospotrebnadzor recommends planning trips to China in advance and refraining from trips to Wuhan until the situation stabilizes there," it said, noting that the service was closely monitoring the situation.
MOSCOW, January 21. /TASS/. The Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Well-Being (Rospotrebnadzor) has recommended tourists going to China to observe precautionary measures and refrain from trips to Wuhan over the outbreak of a new coronavirus there, the watchdog’s press service said.
Those Russians traveling to China should check the epidemiological situation in the country and should not visit markets where animals and seafood are sold as well as zoos and other animal events. Besides, they should drink only bottled water, eat heat-treated meals and wash hands after visiting places of mass gatherings and before eating food.
In case there are the first signs of a suspected disease, they should seek medical assistance. When visiting medical facilities in Russia, they should inform doctors about the time and place where they had stayed in China.
On December 31, the Chinese authorities informed the World Health Organization about the outbreak of a new type of pneumonia in the city of Wuhan in central China. On January 7, Chinese specialists determined the virus behind the infection - coronavirus 2019-nCoV. All suspected cases of new pneumonia were tested for the coronavirus.
Chinese authorities confirmed on Tuesday 291 cases of infection with coronavirus and six deaths. The virus has been registered in Wuhan, Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen and other cities across the country.


tass--2020-01-22--AI to assist Russian military brass in decision-making, says hi-tech manufacturer

According to the CEO , RTI has a big contract to upgrade the National Defense Control Center and develop special software that will incorporate artificial intelligence into the center ’ s operations .
MOSCOW , January 22 .
/TASS/ .
Artificial intelligence elements will be introduced into Russia ’ s National Defense Control Center ( NDCC ) during its upgrade , Pavel Laptayev , CEO of the RTI Joint Stock Company told TASS , adding that the new system will assist top military brass in their decision-making .
`` Of course , the military does not plan to delegate decision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ developing our system in a somewhat different direction , towards decision-making assistance .
So that the officers have all the required information for a sound decision , have an understanding of what forces and means are present , and what the situation is in the subordinate divisions , '' Laptayev explained .
He also noted that RTI ’ s specialists were working on NDCC ’ s cybersecurity .
In particular , everything is being switched over to Russian software , Russian processors , and Russian systems .
The National Defense Control Center of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Staff .
It provides centralized combat control for the Russian Armed Forces , coordinates actions of the Fleet and the Aerospace forces , and provides information to various levels of the Ministry of Defense , among other things .
The center went into service on December 1 , 2014 .

According to the CEO, RTI has a big contract to upgrade the National Defense Control Center and develop special software that will incorporate artificial intelligence into the center’s operations.
MOSCOW, January 22. /TASS/. Artificial intelligence elements will be introduced into Russia’s National Defense Control Center (NDCC) during its upgrade, Pavel Laptayev, CEO of the RTI Joint Stock Company told TASS, adding that the new system will assist top military brass in their decision-making.
"Of course, the military does not plan to delegate decision making to artificial intelligence. We are developing our system in a somewhat different direction, towards decision-making assistance. So that the officers have all the required information for a sound decision, have an understanding of what forces and means are present, and what the situation is in the subordinate divisions," Laptayev explained.
He also noted that RTI’s specialists were working on NDCC’s cybersecurity. In particular, everything is being switched over to Russian software, Russian processors, and Russian systems.
The National Defense Control Center of Russia is a subordinate of the General Staff. It provides centralized combat control for the Russian Armed Forces, coordinates actions of the Fleet and the Aerospace forces, and provides information to various levels of the Ministry of Defense, among other things. The center went into service on December 1, 2014.


tass--2020-01-22--Lukoil does not intend to compensate Belarus for losses from tax maneuver

`` These relations developed after the introduction of the tax maneuver .
We work on commercial terms .
The tax maneuver is not a proposal from Russian oil companies , we are victims , just like the Belarusians .
Therefore , we are not going to compensate for the losses that the Belarusian side suffers .
This is an intergovernmental relationship , '' he said .
DAVOS , January 22 .
/TASS/ .
Lukoil does not plan to compensate Belarus for losses due to a tax maneuver in the oil industry and to resume the supply of oil to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ head of Lukoil Vagit Alekperov told TASS on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos .
Alekperov also said that Lukoil redirected the volumes of oil previously supplied to Belarus to other directions .
At the same time , this did not affect the company 's production .
`` Yes , ( we have redirected -TASS ) , production was not affected in any way .
Only those restrictions that exist under OPEC+ affect production , '' he added .
Head of Belneftekhim Andrey Rybakov said earlier that Belarus is ready @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supplies '' in the near future .
That means that Belarus will start receiving oil from other states than Russia .
`` Alternative deliveries are being worked out .
I will not announce it , but there are some contracts , which are almost ready , '' Rybakov said as quoted by BelTA .
He did not specify from which countries oil would be delivered .
Speaking about alternative supplies , Rybakov said that `` this applies not only to the oil itself , but also to the logistics channels .
The head @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into a contract for the supply of 80,000 tonnes of oil from Norway , which will go to OJSC Naftan .
Minsk and Moscow have been negotiating the supply of Russian hydrocarbons to Belarus .
On December 30-31 , 2019 , Presidents of Belarus and Russia Alexander Lukashenko and Vladimir Putin , discussed this issue by telephone .
Following the talks , Lukashenko instructed the authorities to conclude contracts with companies from Russia for the supply of oil in 2020 to ensure the smooth operation of two Belarusian oil refineries , but no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ At the same time , Lukashenko instructed the leadership of the petrochemical complex to work out options for alternative supplies of hydrocarbons .
On January 14 , First Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus Dmitry Krutoy announced that the government had sent commercial proposals for the purchase of oil to Ukraine , Poland , Kazakhstan , Azerbaijan and the Baltic countries .
On January 3 , Belneftekhim stated that the supplies of Russian oil were not conduced .
The loading of the oil refineries was reduced to the minimum technologically permissible level .
On @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supply of oil to Belarusian refineries were resumed .
According to a TASS source familiar with the negotiations between the companies , a schedule for Russian oil supplies to Belarus has been signed , and it is planned to deliver about 600,000 tonnes of oil by the end of the month .
On January 20 , it became known that Belarus had bought 80,000 tonnes of oil from Norway .

"These relations developed after the introduction of the tax maneuver. We work on commercial terms. The tax maneuver is not a proposal from Russian oil companies, we are victims, just like the Belarusians. Therefore, we are not going to compensate for the losses that the Belarusian side suffers. This is an intergovernmental relationship," he said.
DAVOS, January 22. /TASS/. Lukoil does not plan to compensate Belarus for losses due to a tax maneuver in the oil industry and to resume the supply of oil to the country's refineries on favorable terms, head of Lukoil Vagit Alekperov told TASS on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos.
Alekperov also said that Lukoil redirected the volumes of oil previously supplied to Belarus to other directions. At the same time, this did not affect the company's production. "Yes, (we have redirected -TASS), production was not affected in any way. Only those restrictions that exist under OPEC+ affect production," he added.
Head of Belneftekhim Andrey Rybakov said earlier that Belarus is ready to conclude contracts on "alternative oil supplies" in the near future. That means that Belarus will start receiving oil from other states than Russia. "Alternative deliveries are being worked out. I will not announce it, but there are some contracts, which are almost ready," Rybakov said as quoted by BelTA. He did not specify from which countries oil would be delivered. Speaking about alternative supplies, Rybakov said that "this applies not only to the oil itself, but also to the logistics channels.
The head of Belneftekhim recalled that Belarus had entered into a contract for the supply of 80,000 tonnes of oil from Norway, which will go to OJSC Naftan.
Minsk and Moscow have been negotiating the supply of Russian hydrocarbons to Belarus.
On December 30-31, 2019, Presidents of Belarus and Russia Alexander Lukashenko and Vladimir Putin, discussed this issue by telephone.
Following the talks, Lukashenko instructed the authorities to conclude contracts with companies from Russia for the supply of oil in 2020 to ensure the smooth operation of two Belarusian oil refineries, but no documents were signed by January 1.
At the same time, Lukashenko instructed the leadership of the petrochemical complex to work out options for alternative supplies of hydrocarbons.
On January 14, First Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus Dmitry Krutoy announced that the government had sent commercial proposals for the purchase of oil to Ukraine, Poland, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and the Baltic countries.
On January 3, Belneftekhim stated that the supplies of Russian oil were not conduced. The loading of the oil refineries was reduced to the minimum technologically permissible level.
On January 4, one-time contracts for the supply of oil to Belarusian refineries were resumed. According to a TASS source familiar with the negotiations between the companies, a schedule for Russian oil supplies to Belarus has been signed, and it is planned to deliver about 600,000 tonnes of oil by the end of the month.
On January 20, it became known that Belarus had bought 80,000 tonnes of oil from Norway.


tass--2020-01-22--Belarus, Russia ready to enhance space cooperation, says envoy

MINSK , January 22 .
/TASS/ .
Russia and Belarus have significant potential for expanding cooperation in the space sphere and implementing new high-technology projects , Russian Ambassador to Belarus Dmitry Mezentsev told TASS on Wednesday .
`` Russia ’ s proposals to create joint ventures , namely those related to remote sensing of the Earth and deep space research based on the science and industrial potential accumulated by Belarus are of great importance in the long-term , '' the Russian diplomat noted .
Mezentsev considers the joint potential of both states `` an important factor that demonstrates the commitment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experience , use it as the basis and use the partner ’ s best features . ''
The Russian ambassador noted that during the visit of Russian state corporation Roscosmos chief Dmitry Rogozin to Minsk , `` agreements with the Belarusian president were reached to determine new stages of real enhancement of cooperation between Russian and Belarusian partners . ''
`` This is an example of these integration efforts , whose scale and depth we can feel today , '' Mezentsev said .
The Russian ambassador is confident that the Russian-Belarusian joint experience @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be welcomed by their partners from the Eurasian Economic Union ( EAEU ) and the Commonwealth of the Independent States ( CIS ) .
According to Mezentsev , this matter was raised during the first session of the CIS Interstate Council for Outer Space , which took place in Minsk on Wednesday .
`` I am confident that the session of the [ CIS ] Interstate Council for Outer Space is an important page of professional and practical cooperation between CIS states , which consider this cooperation beneficial for their national economies , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CIS Interstate Council for Outer Space was established with the aim to coordinate activity within the framework of implementing the agreement on organizing joint activity of CIS states in the sphere of space research and use of space with peaceful aims , signed on November 2 , 2018 in Kazakhstan .
The first session of the Interstate Council was attended by space industry chiefs of Russia , Belarus , Kazakhstan , Armenia , representatives of CIS Executive Committee and the Eurasian Economic Union .
The council is headed by Chairman of the Presidium @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Belarus Vladimir Gusakov .

MINSK, January 22. /TASS/. Russia and Belarus have significant potential for expanding cooperation in the space sphere and implementing new high-technology projects, Russian Ambassador to Belarus Dmitry Mezentsev told TASS on Wednesday.
"Russia’s proposals to create joint ventures, namely those related to remote sensing of the Earth and deep space research based on the science and industrial potential accumulated by Belarus are of great importance in the long-term," the Russian diplomat noted.
Mezentsev considers the joint potential of both states "an important factor that demonstrates the commitment to learn from each other’s experience, use it as the basis and use the partner’s best features." The Russian ambassador noted that during the visit of Russian state corporation Roscosmos chief Dmitry Rogozin to Minsk, "agreements with the Belarusian president were reached to determine new stages of real enhancement of cooperation between Russian and Belarusian partners." "This is an example of these integration efforts, whose scale and depth we can feel today," Mezentsev said.
The Russian ambassador is confident that the Russian-Belarusian joint experience of cooperation in the space sphere will be welcomed by their partners from the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and the Commonwealth of the Independent States (CIS). According to Mezentsev, this matter was raised during the first session of the CIS Interstate Council for Outer Space, which took place in Minsk on Wednesday. "I am confident that the session of the [CIS] Interstate Council for Outer Space is an important page of professional and practical cooperation between CIS states, which consider this cooperation beneficial for their national economies," the Russian diplomat stated.
The CIS Interstate Council for Outer Space was established with the aim to coordinate activity within the framework of implementing the agreement on organizing joint activity of CIS states in the sphere of space research and use of space with peaceful aims, signed on November 2, 2018 in Kazakhstan. The first session of the Interstate Council was attended by space industry chiefs of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia, representatives of CIS Executive Committee and the Eurasian Economic Union. The council is headed by Chairman of the Presidium of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus Vladimir Gusakov.