tass--2020-07-16--Press review: US to target Nord Stream 2’s EU creditors and Russia cracks down on US cult

In 2017 , when Rex Tillerson headed the US State Department , he decided against imposing the Countering America 's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act ( CAATSA ) against Nord Stream 2 because the project ’ s implementation had begun before this legislation was adopted .
Managing Partner at Pen & Paper ’ s Moscow office Anton Imennov explained that Trump had empowered the Treasury Department with the right to impose CAATSA sanctions after coordination with the State Department .
`` Now the US has run out of the means of halting Nord Stream 2 ’ s construction and that ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remove the clause on the application of Section 232 of CAATSA , '' the lawyer said .
Therefore , `` these are not new sanctions but well forgotten old ones . ''
Section 232 says that the sanctions target companies , which deliberately take part in building Russian energy export pipelines , provide investments or supply goods , services and technologies to the tune of over $ 1 mln in any single transaction or $ 5 mln in a 12-month period .
A major blow could be dealt to five European companies sponsoring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Uniper , Wintershall and OMV .
Sources in these companies earlier said that in case of a real threat of sanctions they would be forced to leave .
However , the management of all participants said that key investments in the project had been already provided .
In this situation it is unclear what the US wants from Gazprom ’ s partners .
The application of retroactive sanctions would be an unprecedented step and in theory , these European companies could demand Gazprom return the loans and announce plans publicly to stop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In this case , the project ’ s political positions will be weakened since it won ’ t be called European anymore , nevertheless the company still has the opportunity to complete the construction , the paper says .
Russia has carried out a number of special operations against Jehovah 's Witnesses ( a US-based religious sect that is outlawed in Russia ) in several regions .
On July 15 , one of the extremist organization ’ s leaders was detained in Siberia ’ s Tomsk Region , and ten others were arrested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over recruiting new members into the religious cult despite the ban .
One of the reasons for this intensified effort by Russian law enforcement agencies against the religious group is that its followers are known COVID-19 deniers , Roman Silantyev , who heads the human rights center at the World Russian People 's Council , told Izvestia .
Jehovah ’ s Witnesses do not only ban followers from blood transfusions , but also praise those who died because of rejecting medical assistance as heroes .
A source in law enforcement agencies told the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against the sect ’ s followers for several years in Russia .
Another source linked the beefed-up effort by Russian law enforcement agencies to the threat that the sect ’ s members could sabotage anti-epidemic measures .
The sect ’ s activity poses a threat not only to people ’ s health .
There are serious concerns over the goals pursued by Jehovah ’ s Witnesses in Russia , the expert noted .
`` When the ban was imposed , Jehovah ’ s Witnesses had nearly 170,000 adult members .
The organization ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ throughout the country .
The organization is subordinated to its headquarters in the United States , where the supervision center is located .
This is a sort of ‘ a fifth column , ’ '' Silantyev explained .
The move to increase quotas on oil production starting in August by 2 mln barrels per day could keep oil prices at $ 40- $ 50 per barrel until the end of the year , experts interviewed by Izvestia said .
The decision by the OPEC+ Ministerial Monitoring Committee to preserve the previous agreements and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mln barrels instead of 9.6 mln in July was expected .
There are signs of rising oil demand on the market and that ’ s why cartel members , who refused to ease restrictions , could cede ground to more active players .
If OPEC+ countries had decided to keep oil cuts at previous levels , this would have created risks for some states of losing their market share , said Marcel Salikhov , President of the Institute of Energy and Finances .
As a result of the OPEC+ agreements , starting from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ market will increase by 2 mln barrels per day .
According to the International Energy Agency , as far as demand for oil globally goes , the world is ready for this figure , said chief analyst at AMarkets Artem Deyev .
`` In fact , nothing will change , prices will remain at the previous level of $ 40- $ 50 , unless there is a second wave of the pandemic , '' the expert told the paper .
Meanwhile , the real increase in production in August could be less because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fully meet their commitments in May-June , namely Iraq , Angola , Nigeria and Kazakhstan , Kommersant business daily writes .
According to Platts , they will have to cut production by 0.84 barrels per day in July-September .
Basically , OPEC+ is returning to the schedule of cuts agreed on for April and it implies gradually boosting production and that ’ s why this won ’ t be a surprise for Russian companies , Fitch expert Dmitry Marinchenko said .
According to the analyst , Russia will be able to step up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ per day .
If this level remains unchanged until the end of the year , Russia ’ s oil output in 2020 will turn out to be 8-10 % lower than in 2019 .
Another mystery is how the quotas will be shared among Russian companies and whether they will be able to boost production proportionally or whether someone will increase it more than others .
The hot phase of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict has been raging for four days , resulting in nearly 20 casualties .
Meanwhile , there is no fighting on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ traditional conflict zone between Armenia and Azerbaijan , which is located to the southeast of the new hotbed , RBC writes .
The area of current conflict - the Tavush Region in Armenia and the Tovuz Region in Azerbaijan - is mountainous but densely populated .
Exchanges of fire took place earlier there .
The reason is that there is no official border between the two countries .
Until 2018 , shooting in this region was common , but the current situation is absolutely unprecedented because its intensity could be only compared to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Leonid Nersisyan , a military expert from the Armenian Research & Development Institute ( ARDI ) .
Azerbaijani political scientist Farchad Mammadov has a different view on the reasons behind the current escalation .
According to him , the incident was provoked by Armenia in order to maintain the status quo at the Karabakh negotiations .
`` Azerbaijan wants to restore integrity by returning Nagorno-Karabakh .
If Baku had sought conflict escalation , the shooting would have started in Nagorno-Karabakh , not on the border with Armenia , '' he said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` a threat to its statehood '' and make it a background for talks on the future of Nagorno-Karabakh and then torpedo them .
The current incident is the first major military clash after Nikol Pashinyan had assumed power in Armenia , the paper notes .
The prospects for further escalation of the conflict depend on several factors - mass demonstrations in Baku on July 14 and Turkey ’ s direct support for Azerbaijan at all levels , but Russia ’ s efforts to stabilize the situation could outshine all others , Nersisyan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arts ( MMA ) are attracting a bigger number of spectators and have made leaps and bounds over the past years .
Now Russia has got not only several talented fighters but also two champions of the world ’ s most prestigious league - UFC .
The names of Khabib Nurmagomedov and Petr Yan are familiar to every sports fan .
Another champion , Zabit Magomedsharipov , is an up and coming fighter , who ’ s a prize-winner for the most spectacular bouts almost every night , Izvestia writes .
The MMA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ records and sometimes even outperform football and hockey .
`` There are two reasons here .
Firstly , MMA is now perceived as professional sport , '' Executive Director at Russian Cagefighting Championship ( RCC ) Nikolai Klimenko said .
`` New teams emerge and there is good management .
The number of promotions has increased and the product quality has improved , and sponsors have come .
This certainly impacts the level of athletes .
Second , if we speak about UFC , two years ago they entered our market and since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grown and new leaders have emerged . ''
The head of Russian professional team Rat Alexander Skaredin stressed that the breakthrough of MMA in Russia is the result of systemic work .
`` Quantity always becomes quality , '' the expert said .
`` Today , Russia is ranked third in the world for the number of professional MMA fighters after the US and Brazil . ''
Meanwhile , experts have different views on the prospects of MMA in Russia .
According to Klimenko , one day MMA could catch up with football @ @ @ @ @ @ @ matter of time .
However , Skaredin believes that this is impossible because Russia ’ s MMA is in a no-win situation compared to football and hockey .
`` MMA will never become sport number one in the world and moreover in Russia , that ’ s why we should be just glad for our champions and hope that MMA is becoming more popular , '' he said .
TASS is not responsible for the material quoted in these press reviews

Kommersant: Washington to turn up the heat on Nord Stream’s European creditors The United States is trying to exert pressure on European creditors of the Nord Stream 2 project, threatening to impose retroactive sanctions on them. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo demanded that Shell, Engie, Uniper, Wintershall and OMV should leave immediately or otherwise all their assets in America will be frozen. The new threats come amid Gazprom’s revved-up efforts to complete the project. However, it still remains unclear how the companies, which allocated 4.7 bln euro for Nord Stream 2 in loans, could avoid sanctions, Kommersant business daily writes.
Read also Nord Stream 2 AG cannot start pipelaying due to possible appeal, says regulator
In 2017, when Rex Tillerson headed the US State Department, he decided against imposing the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) against Nord Stream 2 because the project’s implementation had begun before this legislation was adopted. Managing Partner at Pen & Paper’s Moscow office Anton Imennov explained that Trump had empowered the Treasury Department with the right to impose CAATSA sanctions after coordination with the State Department. "Now the US has run out of the means of halting Nord Stream 2’s construction and that’s why Mike Pompeo had to immediately remove the clause on the application of Section 232 of CAATSA," the lawyer said. Therefore, "these are not new sanctions but well forgotten old ones." Section 232 says that the sanctions target companies, which deliberately take part in building Russian energy export pipelines, provide investments or supply goods, services and technologies to the tune of over $1 mln in any single transaction or $5 mln in a 12-month period. A major blow could be dealt to five European companies sponsoring Nord Stream 2 - Shell, Engie, Uniper, Wintershall and OMV. Sources in these companies earlier said that in case of a real threat of sanctions they would be forced to leave. However, the management of all participants said that key investments in the project had been already provided. In this situation it is unclear what the US wants from Gazprom’s partners. The application of retroactive sanctions would be an unprecedented step and in theory, these European companies could demand Gazprom return the loans and announce plans publicly to stop the implementation of Nord Stream 2. In this case, the project’s political positions will be weakened since it won’t be called European anymore, nevertheless the company still has the opportunity to complete the construction, the paper says. Izvestia: Russia steps up fight against religious extremists Russia has carried out a number of special operations against Jehovah's Witnesses (a US-based religious sect that is outlawed in Russia) in several regions. On July 15, one of the extremist organization’s leaders was detained in Siberia’s Tomsk Region, and ten others were arrested in Voronezh, in central Russia, over recruiting new members into the religious cult despite the ban. One of the reasons for this intensified effort by Russian law enforcement agencies against the religious group is that its followers are known COVID-19 deniers, Roman Silantyev, who heads the human rights center at the World Russian People's Council, told Izvestia. Jehovah’s Witnesses do not only ban followers from blood transfusions, but also praise those who died because of rejecting medical assistance as heroes.
Read also Head of Jehovah's Witnesses cell in Siberian city detained on extremism charges
A source in law enforcement agencies told the paper that systemic work had been conducted against the sect’s followers for several years in Russia. Another source linked the beefed-up effort by Russian law enforcement agencies to the threat that the sect’s members could sabotage anti-epidemic measures. The sect’s activity poses a threat not only to people’s health. There are serious concerns over the goals pursued by Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia, the expert noted. "When the ban was imposed, Jehovah’s Witnesses had nearly 170,000 adult members. The organization’s cells were nearly in all regions throughout the country. The organization is subordinated to its headquarters in the United States, where the supervision center is located. This is a sort of ‘a fifth column,’" Silantyev explained. Media: OPEC+ starts cautiously increasing production The move to increase quotas on oil production starting in August by 2 mln barrels per day could keep oil prices at $40-$50 per barrel until the end of the year, experts interviewed by Izvestia said. The decision by the OPEC+ Ministerial Monitoring Committee to preserve the previous agreements and cut production starting in August by 7.7 mln barrels instead of 9.6 mln in July was expected. There are signs of rising oil demand on the market and that’s why cartel members, who refused to ease restrictions, could cede ground to more active players.
If OPEC+ countries had decided to keep oil cuts at previous levels, this would have created risks for some states of losing their market share, said Marcel Salikhov, President of the Institute of Energy and Finances. As a result of the OPEC+ agreements, starting from August 1 the oil volume on the market will increase by 2 mln barrels per day. According to the International Energy Agency, as far as demand for oil globally goes, the world is ready for this figure, said chief analyst at AMarkets Artem Deyev. "In fact, nothing will change, prices will remain at the previous level of $40-$50, unless there is a second wave of the pandemic," the expert told the paper. Meanwhile, the real increase in production in August could be less because of those countries, which did not fully meet their commitments in May-June, namely Iraq, Angola, Nigeria and Kazakhstan, Kommersant business daily writes. According to Platts, they will have to cut production by 0.84 barrels per day in July-September. Basically, OPEC+ is returning to the schedule of cuts agreed on for April and it implies gradually boosting production and that’s why this won’t be a surprise for Russian companies, Fitch expert Dmitry Marinchenko said. According to the analyst, Russia will be able to step up production in August by nearly 400,000 barrels per day. If this level remains unchanged until the end of the year, Russia’s oil output in 2020 will turn out to be 8-10% lower than in 2019. Another mystery is how the quotas will be shared among Russian companies and whether they will be able to boost production proportionally or whether someone will increase it more than others. RBC: Armenian-Azerbaijan border conflict turns hot The hot phase of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict has been raging for four days, resulting in nearly 20 casualties. Meanwhile, there is no fighting on the contact line along Nagorno-Karabakh, the traditional conflict zone between Armenia and Azerbaijan, which is located to the southeast of the new hotbed, RBC writes. The area of current conflict - the Tavush Region in Armenia and the Tovuz Region in Azerbaijan - is mountainous but densely populated. Exchanges of fire took place earlier there. The reason is that there is no official border between the two countries.
Read also Baku reports renewed clashes on Azerbaijan-Armenia border
Until 2018, shooting in this region was common, but the current situation is absolutely unprecedented because its intensity could be only compared to the April 2016 war in Nagorno-Karabakh, said Leonid Nersisyan, a military expert from the Armenian Research & Development Institute (ARDI). Azerbaijani political scientist Farchad Mammadov has a different view on the reasons behind the current escalation. According to him, the incident was provoked by Armenia in order to maintain the status quo at the Karabakh negotiations. "Azerbaijan wants to restore integrity by returning Nagorno-Karabakh. If Baku had sought conflict escalation, the shooting would have started in Nagorno-Karabakh, not on the border with Armenia," he said. Yerevan’s strategy is to create "a threat to its statehood" and make it a background for talks on the future of Nagorno-Karabakh and then torpedo them. The current incident is the first major military clash after Nikol Pashinyan had assumed power in Armenia, the paper notes. The prospects for further escalation of the conflict depend on several factors - mass demonstrations in Baku on July 14 and Turkey’s direct support for Azerbaijan at all levels, but Russia’s efforts to stabilize the situation could outshine all others, Nersisyan said. Izvestia: MMA sees popularity boom in Russia Russia’s mixed martial arts (MMA) are attracting a bigger number of spectators and have made leaps and bounds over the past years. Now Russia has got not only several talented fighters but also two champions of the world’s most prestigious league - UFC. The names of Khabib Nurmagomedov and Petr Yan are familiar to every sports fan. Another champion, Zabit Magomedsharipov, is an up and coming fighter, who’s a prize-winner for the most spectacular bouts almost every night, Izvestia writes.
Read also Russian MMA fighter Yan wins UFC bantamweight title


tass--2020-07-16--Kremlin assails US blacklist of individuals allegedly linked to Prigozhin

MOSCOW , July 16 .
/TASS/ .
Washington ’ s recent blackballing of Russian citizens and companies has raised Moscow @ @ @ @ @ spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Thursday , commenting on the recent introduction of new restrictions by @ @ @ @ @ individuals and five legal entities , allegedly connected to businessman Yevgeniy Prigozhin .
`` We @ @ @ @ @ any sanctions regarding Russian citizens , Russian legal entities , '' the spokesman emphasized .
@ @ @ @ @ sanctions on three individuals and five legal entities which are allegedly linked to Russian businessman @ @ @ @ @ the US Department of the Treasury ’ s statement .
Those who have been blackballed @ @ @ @ @ , Andrey Mandel and Mikhail Potepkin , the Russia-based M Invest company , Sudan ’ @ @ @ @ @ as three companies from Hong Kong and Thailand .
Being placed on the blacklist means @ @ @ @ @ assets in the United States will be frozen and American citizens or companies will be @ @ @ @ @ those named on the list .

MOSCOW, July 16. /TASS/. Washington’s recent blackballing of Russian citizens and companies has raised Moscow’s ire noted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Thursday, commenting on the recent introduction of new restrictions by the US against three private individuals and five legal entities, allegedly connected to businessman Yevgeniy Prigozhin.
"We always feel highly negative about any sanctions regarding Russian citizens, Russian legal entities," the spokesman emphasized.
On Wednesday, Washington slapped sanctions on three individuals and five legal entities which are allegedly linked to Russian businessman Yevgeniy Prigozhin, according to the US Department of the Treasury’s statement. Those who have been blackballed are Russian citizens Igor Lavrenkov, Andrey Mandel and Mikhail Potepkin, the Russia-based M Invest company, Sudan’s Meroe Gold as well as three companies from Hong Kong and Thailand. Being placed on the blacklist means that a subject’s assets in the United States will be frozen and American citizens or companies will be prohibited from doing business with those named on the list.


tass--2020-07-16--Kremlin says has no data on Russians taking part in Libyan military activities

MOSCOW , July 16 .
/TASS/ .
The Russian military is not involved in any military activities in Libya and @ @ @ @ @ any organized groups of Russian nationals there , Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on @ @ @ @ @ military is not taking part in any processes in Libya , '' Peskov said .
@ @ @ @ @ any organized Russian nationals , who could take part in them , '' he said @

MOSCOW, July 16. /TASS/. The Russian military is not involved in any military activities in Libya and there is no data on any organized groups of Russian nationals there, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Thursday.
"The Russian military is not taking part in any processes in Libya," Peskov said. "We are unaware of any organized Russian nationals, who could take part in them," he said.


tass--2020-07-16--Shipbuilders deliver two latest fast-speed patrol boats to Russian Navy

`` Therefore , the boats officially entered service with the Baltic Fleet .
Both boats were delivered to the state customer ahead of schedule .
The acceptance/delivery certificates were signed on July 8 , 2020 , '' the press office said in a statement .
ST. PETERSBURG , July 16 .
/TASS/ .
An official ceremony of hoisting the St. Andrew ’ s Russian naval flags took place on Project 03160 ‘ Raptor ’ two patrol boats in Kronshtadt in northwestern Russia , the press office of the Pella Shipyard ( the boats ’ builder ) reported on Thursday .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the Pella Shipyard on order from the Russian Navy are designated to carry out patrols in the coastal areas of seas , straits and river estuaries in the daytime and at night at a distance of 100 nautical miles from the base .
Raptor-class boats can also be used for promptly transporting up to 20 marines , intercepting and detaining small targets and carrying out search and rescue operations in the areas of their patrolling .
The Project 03160 patrol boat is armored and outfitted with a remotely operated weapon station with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ machine-guns on bracket mounts .
The boat is 16.9 meters long and 4.1 meters wide and has a crew of three .
It can develop a speed of up to 50 knots .

"Therefore, the boats officially entered service with the Baltic Fleet. Both boats were delivered to the state customer ahead of schedule. The acceptance/delivery certificates were signed on July 8, 2020," the press office said in a statement.
ST. PETERSBURG, July 16. /TASS/. An official ceremony of hoisting the St. Andrew’s Russian naval flags took place on Project 03160 ‘Raptor’ two patrol boats in Kronshtadt in northwestern Russia, the press office of the Pella Shipyard (the boats’ builder) reported on Thursday.
The Project 03160 Raptor-class patrol boats built at the Pella Shipyard on order from the Russian Navy are designated to carry out patrols in the coastal areas of seas, straits and river estuaries in the daytime and at night at a distance of 100 nautical miles from the base.
Raptor-class boats can also be used for promptly transporting up to 20 marines, intercepting and detaining small targets and carrying out search and rescue operations in the areas of their patrolling.
The Project 03160 patrol boat is armored and outfitted with a remotely operated weapon station with a 14.5mm machine-gun and two 7.62mm Pecheneg machine-guns on bracket mounts. The boat is 16.9 meters long and 4.1 meters wide and has a crew of three. It can develop a speed of up to 50 knots.


tass--2020-07-16--Baku rejects reports of 13 Azerbaijani drones downed by Armenian forces

`` This is misinformation .
We are stating that all the drones in service with the Azerbaijani army units are operational and there are no losses , '' spokesman for Azerbaijan ’ s Defense Ministry Vagif Dargyakhly said .
BAKU , July 16 .
/TASS/ .
Azerbaijan ’ s Defense Ministry on Thursday rejected Armenia ’ s reports that 13 Azerbaijani drones were allegedly downed by Armenian armed forces in border clashes .
Armenian Defense Ministry spokesman Artsrun Ovannisyan earlier claimed that 13 Azerbaijani drones had been downed during the border fighting .
The situation on the Azerbaijani-Armenian border escalated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Defense Ministry reported on Sunday that Armenian army units had tried to attack Azerbaijan ’ s positions at the Tovuz section of the border with the use of artillery .
According to the ministry , the clashes continued throughout the night .
Azerbaijan reported that eleven Azerbaijani servicemen , including Major-General Polad Gashimov , were killed during the three days of fighting .
Armenia ’ s Defense Ministry said , in turn , that the border situation had aggravated after Azerbaijan ’ s attempted attack .
According to the data of Armenia ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were killed while two policemen and three soldiers received minor wounds .
The conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh broke out in February 1988 , when the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region declared its secession from the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic .
During the armed conflict of 1992-1994 , Azerbaijan lost control over Nagorno-Karabah and seven neighboring areas .
The negotiations on the peaceful settlement of the conflict under the OSCE Minsk Group headed by three co-chairs ( Russia , US and France ) have been going on since 1992 .

"This is misinformation. We are stating that all the drones in service with the Azerbaijani army units are operational and there are no losses," spokesman for Azerbaijan’s Defense Ministry Vagif Dargyakhly said.
BAKU, July 16. /TASS/. Azerbaijan’s Defense Ministry on Thursday rejected Armenia’s reports that 13 Azerbaijani drones were allegedly downed by Armenian armed forces in border clashes.
Armenian Defense Ministry spokesman Artsrun Ovannisyan earlier claimed that 13 Azerbaijani drones had been downed during the border fighting.
The situation on the Azerbaijani-Armenian border escalated on July 12.
Azerbaijan’s Defense Ministry reported on Sunday that Armenian army units had tried to attack Azerbaijan’s positions at the Tovuz section of the border with the use of artillery. According to the ministry, the clashes continued throughout the night. Azerbaijan reported that eleven Azerbaijani servicemen, including Major-General Polad Gashimov, were killed during the three days of fighting.
Armenia’s Defense Ministry said, in turn, that the border situation had aggravated after Azerbaijan’s attempted attack. According to the data of Armenia’s Foreign Ministry, four Armenian servicemen were killed while two policemen and three soldiers received minor wounds.
The conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh broke out in February 1988, when the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region declared its secession from the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic. During the armed conflict of 1992-1994, Azerbaijan lost control over Nagorno-Karabah and seven neighboring areas. The negotiations on the peaceful settlement of the conflict under the OSCE Minsk Group headed by three co-chairs (Russia, US and France) have been going on since 1992.


tass--2020-07-16--Moscow’s daily number of new coronavirus cases falls to lowest since April 4

MOSCOW , July 16 .
/TASS/ .
The number of coronavirus patients in Moscow rose by 532 to 231,801 in @ @ @ @ @ anti-coronavirus crisis center said on Thursday .
The number of new daily cases is the @ @ @ @ @ when 434 patients were identified .
Moscow ’ s coronavirus growth rate is 0.23 % @ @ @ @ @ nation .
According to the crisis center , the city confirmed 1,145 coronavirus recoveries and @ @ @ @ @ 24 hours .
Nearly 73 % of Moscow ’ s coronavirus patients have recovered .

MOSCOW, July 16. /TASS/. The number of coronavirus patients in Moscow rose by 532 to 231,801 in the past day, the anti-coronavirus crisis center said on Thursday. The number of new daily cases is the lowest since April 4, when 434 patients were identified.
Moscow’s coronavirus growth rate is 0.23%, the lowest in the nation.
According to the crisis center, the city confirmed 1,145 coronavirus recoveries and 24 fatalities in the past 24 hours. Nearly 73% of Moscow’s coronavirus patients have recovered.


tass--2020-07-16--Russia reports over 6,400 new COVID-19 cases

According to the crisis center , the daily growth rate in the past 10 days did not exceed 0.9 % @ @ @ @ @ .
/TASS/ .
Russia ’ s coronavirus cases rose by 6,428 in the past day @ @ @ @ @ crisis center told reporters on Thursday .
Koronavir anti-coronavirus drug has been released in Russia @ @ @ @ @ in the Sverdlovsk Region , 256 in St. Petersburg , 252 in the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous @ @ @ @ @ Nizhny Novgorod Region and 215 in the Altai Region .
The lowest growth rate in @ @ @ @ @ in Moscow ( 0.2 % ) , the Moscow Region ( 0.3 % ) , @ @ @ @ @ ) , the Nenets Autonomous Region ( 0.4 % ) , the Kursk Region ( @ @ @ @ @ ( 0.5 % ) and the Kaliningrad Region ( 0.5 % ) .
To date @ @ @ @ @ undergoing treatment for COVID-19 in Russia .

According to the crisis center, the daily growth rate in the past 10 days did not exceed 0.9%.
MOSCOW, July 16. /TASS/. Russia’s coronavirus cases rose by 6,428 in the past day to 752,797, the anti-coronavirus crisis center told reporters on Thursday.
New 349 cases were recorded in the Sverdlovsk Region, 256 in St. Petersburg, 252 in the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Region, 221 in the Nizhny Novgorod Region and 215 in the Altai Region.
The lowest growth rate in the past day was registered in Moscow (0.2%), the Moscow Region (0.3%), North Ossetia (0.4%), the Nenets Autonomous Region (0.4%), the Kursk Region (0.5%), Dagestan (0.5%) and the Kaliningrad Region (0.5%).
To date, some 209,168 people are undergoing treatment for COVID-19 in Russia.


tass--2020-07-16--Baku reports renewed clashes on Azerbaijan-Armenia border

BAKU , July 16 .
/TASS/ .
Azerbaijan 's Defense Ministry reported on Thursday of the continued tensions in the Tovuz direction of the Azerbaijan-Armenia border and the renewal of clashes there .
New US sanctions will not have serious impact on TurkStream , expert says '' From the morning of July 16 , the units of Armenia ’ s armed forces again attempted to attack the positions of the Azerbaijani army in the section of the Azerbaijan-Armenia border in the Tovuz district , '' the statement said .
According to the agency , the villages of Agdam , Dondar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ large-caliber weapons and mortars with no civilian casualties .
`` Currently the fighting is ongoing in that direction .
The combat situation is under control of the units of the Azerbaijani army , '' the statement noted .
In turn , Armenia ’ s Defense Ministry reported that the Azerbaijani units began shelling of the villages of Aygepar and Movses .
The situation on the Azerbaijan-Armenia border escalated on July 12 .
Azerbaijan reported of the attempt of the Armenian armed forces units to attack the positions of Azerbaijan ’ s army using @ @ @ @ @ @ @ border situation has aggravated after a breakthrough attempt on the part of Azerbaijan .
Baku reported on the eleven Azerbaijani servicemen killed over three days of clashes , including Major General Polad Gashimov .
Yerevan reported four servicemen killed and ten wounded .
The conflict between neighboring Armenia and Azerbaijan over the highland region of Nagorno-Karabakh , ( a disputed territory that had been part of Azerbaijan before the Soviet Union break-up but was primarily populated by Armenians ) broke out in February of 1988 after the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region announced its withdrawal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1992-1994 , tensions boiled over and exploded into large-scale military action for control over the enclave and seven adjacent territories after Azerbaijan lost control of them .
Talks on the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement have been ongoing since 1992 in the format of the so-called OSCE Minsk Group , led by its three co-chairs - Russia , France and the United States .

BAKU, July 16. /TASS/. Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry reported on Thursday of the continued tensions in the Tovuz direction of the Azerbaijan-Armenia border and the renewal of clashes there.
New US sanctions will not have serious impact on TurkStream, expert says
"From the morning of July 16, the units of Armenia’s armed forces again attempted to attack the positions of the Azerbaijani army in the section of the Azerbaijan-Armenia border in the Tovuz district," the statement said.
According to the agency, the villages of Agdam, Dondar Gushchu, and Vahidli were shelled by large-caliber weapons and mortars with no civilian casualties. "Currently the fighting is ongoing in that direction. The combat situation is under control of the units of the Azerbaijani army," the statement noted.
In turn, Armenia’s Defense Ministry reported that the Azerbaijani units began shelling of the villages of Aygepar and Movses.
The situation on the Azerbaijan-Armenia border escalated on July 12. Azerbaijan reported of the attempt of the Armenian armed forces units to attack the positions of Azerbaijan’s army using artillery, while Yerevan reported that the border situation has aggravated after a breakthrough attempt on the part of Azerbaijan. Baku reported on the eleven Azerbaijani servicemen killed over three days of clashes, including Major General Polad Gashimov. Yerevan reported four servicemen killed and ten wounded.
The conflict between neighboring Armenia and Azerbaijan over the highland region of Nagorno-Karabakh, (a disputed territory that had been part of Azerbaijan before the Soviet Union break-up but was primarily populated by Armenians) broke out in February of 1988 after the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region announced its withdrawal from the Azerbaijani Soviet Republic. In 1992-1994, tensions boiled over and exploded into large-scale military action for control over the enclave and seven adjacent territories after Azerbaijan lost control of them. Talks on the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement have been ongoing since 1992 in the format of the so-called OSCE Minsk Group, led by its three co-chairs - Russia, France and the United States.


tass--2020-07-16--CIFF Guangzhou 2020: The First Truly Large-scale Furniture Exhibition of This year

GUANGZHOU , China , July 16 , 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The 45th China International Furniture Fair ( Guangzhou ) ( `` CIFF Guangzhou '' ) , the first truly large-scale furniture exhibition of this year in China , which covers the entire industry chain , will be held at the China Import and Export Fair Complex ( `` Canton Fair Complex '' ) in Guangzhou from 27th to 30th of July .
This year , CIFF Guangzhou is to provide both online and on-site exhibits and events with the mission of driving recovery and stimulating growth .
On-site , home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , outdoor furniture , office and hotel furniture and commercial furniture , as well as furniture machinery and raw materials , will be on display in Areas A , B and C of the Complex .
CIFF Guangzhou has also partnered with several key industry leaders this year to host a series of events and themed exhibitions .
2020 Global Furniture Industry Trend Conference , which will be held concurrently with the exhibition , will bring together leading international players across the industry .
They will provide forward-looking guidance with a focus on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ approach to expand the industry further globally .
`` Design Spring '' Contemporary Chinese Furniture Design Fair will be held in Area A , Hall 3.2 to which many leading furniture and home decor designers have been invited as co-curators .
The focus will be on how to integrate art , design and life to re-examine and discover the unique cultural , artistic , model and brand value of contemporary Chinese furniture design to release the charismatic nature inherent in the design of Chinese furniture to the world .
The inaugural 2030+ International @ @ @ @ @ @ @ B , Hall 11.2 , will integrate image , text , light , shadow , sound and multimedia to create an exciting spatial experience intertwined with real-world scenarios and virtual interactions .
The Fair will also gather well-established and emerging designers to connect with exhibitors during the forums directly , building out a communication platform specially crafted for designers .
With COVID-19 remaining a global challenge , CIFF Guangzhou 2020 will combine online and on-site experiences to create a cloud-based interactive and beneficial platform supported by several high-traffic online networks .
Through an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help exhibitors expand their marketing channels by organizing events ( promotions , exhibitions , presentations , online forums ) , building a platform connecting exhibitors with visitors .

GUANGZHOU, China, July 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The 45th China International Furniture Fair (Guangzhou) ("CIFF Guangzhou"), the first truly large-scale furniture exhibition of this year in China, which covers the entire industry chain, will be held at the China Import and Export Fair Complex ("Canton Fair Complex") in Guangzhou from 27th to 30th of July. This year, CIFF Guangzhou is to provide both online and on-site exhibits and events with the mission of driving recovery and stimulating growth.
On-site, home furniture, home decor and home textiles, outdoor furniture, office and hotel furniture and commercial furniture, as well as furniture machinery and raw materials, will be on display in Areas A, B and C of the Complex. CIFF Guangzhou has also partnered with several key industry leaders this year to host a series of events and themed exhibitions.
2020 Global Furniture Industry Trend Conference, which will be held concurrently with the exhibition, will bring together leading international players across the industry. They will provide forward-looking guidance with a focus on how to apply a professional and market-oriented approach to expand the industry further globally.
"Design Spring" Contemporary Chinese Furniture Design Fair will be held in Area A, Hall 3.2 to which many leading furniture and home decor designers have been invited as co-curators. The focus will be on how to integrate art, design and life to re-examine and discover the unique cultural, artistic, model and brand value of contemporary Chinese furniture design to release the charismatic nature inherent in the design of Chinese furniture to the world.
The inaugural 2030+ International Future Office to be held in Area B, Hall 11.2, will integrate image, text, light, shadow, sound and multimedia to create an exciting spatial experience intertwined with real-world scenarios and virtual interactions.
The Fair will also gather well-established and emerging designers to connect with exhibitors during the forums directly, building out a communication platform specially crafted for designers.
With COVID-19 remaining a global challenge, CIFF Guangzhou 2020 will combine online and on-site experiences to create a cloud-based interactive and beneficial platform supported by several high-traffic online networks. Through an enhanced audience experience, the Fair will help exhibitors expand their marketing channels by organizing events (promotions, exhibitions, presentations, online forums), building a platform connecting exhibitors with visitors.
CONTACT: Betty Ye, +86-20-8912-8349, yepy@fairwindow.com.cn


tass--2020-07-16--Over 24 mln coronavirus tests conducted in Russia

28 variants of COVID-19 vaccine are being developed in Russia MOSCOW , July 16 .
/TASS/ .
Over 24 mln @ @ @ @ @ been conducted in Russia , the Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and @ @ @ @ @ statement on Thursday .
`` More than 24 million coronavirus tests have been conducted in @ @ @ @ @ reads .
As many as 298,000 tests were carried out in the past 24 hours @ @ @ @ @ , 273,200 people remain under medical observation over the coronavirus .

28 variants of COVID-19 vaccine are being developed in Russia
MOSCOW, July 16. /TASS/. Over 24 mln coronavirus tests have so far been conducted in Russia, the Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing said in a statement on Thursday.
"More than 24 million coronavirus tests have been conducted in Russia," the statement reads. As many as 298,000 tests were carried out in the past 24 hours.
According to the watchdog, 273,200 people remain under medical observation over the coronavirus.


tass--2020-07-16--Media Alert: Supermicro Announces First Storage Summit

SAN JOSE , California , July 16 , 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- On July 28 , 2020 , Supermicro will present its first online Storage Summit bringing together key representatives from Supermicro and its partners to present the latest developments in storage technology for enterprises , data centers , and multi-cloud infrastructure .
Confirmed presenters include Charles Liang , Supermicro CEO and Founder ; Dheeraj Pandey , Nutanix Founder , CEO & Chairman ; and , Rob Crooke , Senior Vice President , and General Manager , Intel NSG .
Where : This is a digital-only event – it will include @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Q & A All sessions and information will remain live for a year .
Who : Executives from Supermicro , Nutanix , and Intel .
Please click here for more information and to register .
Supermicro ( Nasdaq : SMCI ) , the leading innovator in high-performance , high-efficiency server technology is a premier provider of advanced server Building Block Solutions® for Data Center , Cloud Computing , Enterprise IT , Hadoop/Big Data , HPC and Embedded Systems worldwide .
Supermicro is committed to protecting the environment through its `` We Keep IT @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the most energy-efficient , environmentally-friendly solutions available on the market .
Supermicro , Building Block Solutions and We Keep IT Green are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Super Micro Computer , Inc. All other brands , names and trademarks are the property of their respective owners .

SAN JOSE, California, July 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- On July 28, 2020, Supermicro will present its first online Storage Summit bringing together key representatives from Supermicro and its partners to present the latest developments in storage technology for enterprises, data centers, and multi-cloud infrastructure. Confirmed presenters include Charles Liang, Supermicro CEO and Founder; Dheeraj Pandey, Nutanix Founder, CEO & Chairman; and, Rob Crooke, Senior Vice President, and General Manager, Intel NSG.
What: Supermicro First Storage Summit
Where: This is a digital-only event – it will include presentations and in-depth breakout sessions with live Q&A
When:
North America/EMEA - July 28, 2020 9:00 a.m. PDT
Asia-Pacific - July 29, 2020 - 9:00 a.m. GMT+8
All sessions and information will remain live for a year.
Who: Executives from Supermicro, Nutanix, and Intel.
Session highlights include:
Keynote session (Supermicro, Nutanix, and Intel)
Technology breakout sessions: NVMe for High-Performance AI and HPC High-Capacity Storage and Expansion Enabling Technologies for HCI Scale-Out Storage Solutions for Cloud Applications
Please click here for more information and to register.
About Super Micro Computer, Inc.
Supermicro (Nasdaq: SMCI), the leading innovator in high-performance, high-efficiency server technology is a premier provider of advanced server Building Block Solutions® for Data Center, Cloud Computing, Enterprise IT, Hadoop/Big Data, HPC and Embedded Systems worldwide. Supermicro is committed to protecting the environment through its "We Keep IT Green®" initiative and provides customers with the most energy-efficient, environmentally-friendly solutions available on the market.
Supermicro, Building Block Solutions and We Keep IT Green are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Super Micro Computer, Inc.
All other brands, names and trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
SMCI-F
CONTACT: Greg Kaufman, Super Micro Computer, Inc., pr@supermicro.com


tass--2020-07-16--About 20 ships to be registered at Hainan's Yangpu port by the end of 2020

SANYA , July 16 .
/TASS/ .
About 20 vessels should be registered at Hainan 's Yangpu by the end of this year , reported www.hinews.cn citing the director of the Development Department for shipping industry projects of Yangpu economic zone Shao Jinning .
On June 12 , the freighter Cosco Shipping Xing Wang became the first to receive a vessel registration certificate at the island 's free port in the Yangpu economic development zone , which is located in the northwest of Hainan .
This event marked the official launch of the ship registration process at Hainan 's free @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the island 's free port .
By now , said Shao Jinning , another cargo ship - Cosco Shipping Peng Cheng - has also passed the registration procedure .
According to the official , by the end of the year there should be about 20 of vessels with a total load of more than 2 million tonnes .
Earlier , the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the Сhinese State Council published the “ General Program for the Establishment of a Free Port on Hainan , ” according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to create an effective system to fulfill a number of important social and economic goals by 2025 , and within 10 years to decisively enhance the innovative mechanisms for the region 's development .

SANYA, July 16. /TASS/. About 20 vessels should be registered at Hainan's Yangpu by the end of this year, reported www.hinews.cn citing the director of the Development Department for shipping industry projects of Yangpu economic zone Shao Jinning.
On June 12, the freighter Cosco Shipping Xing Wang became the first to receive a vessel registration certificate at the island's free port in the Yangpu economic development zone, which is located in the northwest of Hainan. This event marked the official launch of the ship registration process at Hainan's free port and will further promote the construction of the island's free port.
By now, said Shao Jinning, another cargo ship - Cosco Shipping Peng Cheng - has also passed the registration procedure. According to the official, by the end of the year there should be about 20 of vessels with a total load of more than 2 million tonnes.
Earlier, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the Сhinese State Council published the “General Program for the Establishment of a Free Port on Hainan,” according to which the island’s administration intends to create an effective system to fulfill a number of important social and economic goals by 2025, and within 10 years to decisively enhance the innovative mechanisms for the region's development.


tass--2020-07-16--New US sanctions will not have serious impact on TurkStream, expert says

On Wednesday , July 15 , Secretary of State Michael Pompeo told reporters that the US State Department will include the Nord Stream 2 and the second line of the TurkStream project into projects falling under the Countering America 's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act ( CAATSA ) .
At the same time , these sanctions may create additional solvable difficulties for the implementation of the Nord Stream 2 project , he noted .
MOSCOW , July 16 .
/TASS/ .
The US sanctions Secretary of State Michael Pompeo warned about on Wednesday , are unlikely to seriously affect the TurkStream @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the group for natural resources and commodities at Fitch , told TASS .
.
The second line has been built , but the receiving infrastructure is not ready .
Its construction is now being carried out by potential buyers in Bulgaria , Serbia and Hungary .
`` Formally , the receiving infrastructure is not part of the project , so it is more likely that it will not fall under new sanctions .
Besides that , Russia has constructive political relations with each of these countries .
This also increases the chances that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ launched despite the sanctions , '' Marinchenko added .
As for the Nord Stream 2 pipeline , Russia has the technical ability to complete the project , but the sanctions may create additional difficulties , the expert said .
He added that these difficulties will likely be solved .
`` It is important that Germany continues to publicly support the project .
There is still a chance of completion by the end of this year , '' he added .
The Nord Stream 2 project contemplates construction of two gas pipeline strings with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meters per year from Russia to Germany across the Baltic Sea .
The gas pipeline is 93 % complete to date .
The construction was suspended at the end of 2019 when Swiss pipe-laying company Allseas stopped work due to US sanctions .
On June 4 , US Senators introduced a bill expanding sanctions against the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project to the Senate .
According to the press service of one of the senators , the document `` clarifies that US sanctions related to Nord Stream 2 apply to vessels engaged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well as to those who facilitate providing those vessels , as well as to those who provide insurance , port facilities , or tethering services for those vessels , and ultimately to any company that provides certification for the Nord Stream 2 pipeline to begin operations . ''
The TurkStream project is a pipeline consisting of two lines each capable of transmitting 15.75 billion cubic meters of gas annually .
The first line is intended for the Turkish market , while the second branch is going to supply the countries of Southern and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Italy , Bulgaria , Serbia and Hungary as potential markets .

On Wednesday, July 15, Secretary of State Michael Pompeo told reporters that the US State Department will include the Nord Stream 2 and the second line of the TurkStream project into projects falling under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).
At the same time, these sanctions may create additional solvable difficulties for the implementation of the Nord Stream 2 project, he noted.
MOSCOW, July 16. /TASS/. The US sanctions Secretary of State Michael Pompeo warned about on Wednesday, are unlikely to seriously affect the TurkStream pipeline, Dmitry Marinchenko, head of the group for natural resources and commodities at Fitch, told TASS.
. The second line has been built, but the receiving infrastructure is not ready. Its construction is now being carried out by potential buyers in Bulgaria, Serbia and Hungary.
"Formally, the receiving infrastructure is not part of the project, so it is more likely that it will not fall under new sanctions. Besides that, Russia has constructive political relations with each of these countries. This also increases the chances that the second branch will be completed and launched despite the sanctions," Marinchenko added.
As for the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, Russia has the technical ability to complete the project, but the sanctions may create additional difficulties, the expert said. He added that these difficulties will likely be solved.
"It is important that Germany continues to publicly support the project. There is still a chance of completion by the end of this year," he added.
About gas pipelines
The Nord Stream 2 project contemplates construction of two gas pipeline strings with the total capacity of 55 bln cubic meters per year from Russia to Germany across the Baltic Sea. The gas pipeline is 93% complete to date. The construction was suspended at the end of 2019 when Swiss pipe-laying company Allseas stopped work due to US sanctions.
On June 4, US Senators introduced a bill expanding sanctions against the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project to the Senate. According to the press service of one of the senators, the document "clarifies that US sanctions related to Nord Stream 2 apply to vessels engaged in all pipe laying activities, as well as to those who facilitate providing those vessels, as well as to those who provide insurance, port facilities, or tethering services for those vessels, and ultimately to any company that provides certification for the Nord Stream 2 pipeline to begin operations."
The TurkStream project is a pipeline consisting of two lines each capable of transmitting 15.75 billion cubic meters of gas annually. The first line is intended for the Turkish market, while the second branch is going to supply the countries of Southern and Southeastern Europe. Gazprom considers Greece, Italy, Bulgaria, Serbia and Hungary as potential markets.


tass--2020-07-16--US Treasury targets entities allegedly linked with Russian businessman Prigozhin

WASHINGTON , July 16 .
/TASS/ .
The United States imposed sanctions against three individuals and five legal entities allegedly linked to Russian businessman Yevgeniy Prigozhin , the US Treasury Department said in a press release on Wednesday .
`` Today , the Department of the Treasury ’ s Office of Foreign Assets Control ( OFAC ) took further action as part of its ongoing sanctions efforts regarding financier Yevgeniy Prigozhin ( Prigozhin ) , by targeting entities located in Sudan , Hong Kong , and Thailand that have enabled his ability to evade U.S. sanctions .
The actors targeted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ global operations and attempted to suppress and discredit protestors seeking democratic reforms in Sudan , '' according to the press release .
The black list contains Russian citizens Igor Lavrenkov , Andrey Mandel and Mikhail Potepkin , Russian company M Invest , Sudan ’ s Meroe Gold Co as well as three companies from Hong Kong and Thailand .
`` Yevgeniy Prigozhin and his network are exploiting Sudan ’ s natural resources for personal gain and spreading malign influence around the globe , '' said Secretary Steven Mnuchin .
In a separate statement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the United States took steps to further curtail Yevgeny Prigozhin 's destabilizing global activity .
`` Prigozhin ’ s global malign activities are well-documented , as demonstrated by his designation under multiple U.S. sanctions authorities , '' said the chief of US diplomacy , but does not provide evidence .
Pompeo claimed that Prigozhin `` relies on a network of front companies and facilitators '' in an attempt to evade sanctions . ''
The State Department said the companies `` facilitated more than 100 transactions exceeding $ 7.5 million '' during 2018 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interest of Prigozhin .
`` Prigozhin ’ s role in Sudan highlights the interplay between Russia ’ s paramilitary operations , support for preserving authoritarian regimes , such as that of former Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir , and exploitation of natural resources , '' the State Secretary said .
Blacklisting means a freeze on assets in the United States and a ban on American citizens or companies from doing business with those involved .
In February 2018 , the U.S. Department of Justice indicted 13 Russian citizens and three law firms for interfering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ According to the prosecution , Prigozhin ’ s companies funded the St. Petersburg Internet Research Agency , which tried to support Donald Trump .
On March 16 , 2020 , the Washington federal court upheld the prosecutor 's motion to terminate the process .
Russian authorities repeatedly rejected allegations of attempts to influence the course of US elections .

WASHINGTON, July 16. /TASS/. The United States imposed sanctions against three individuals and five legal entities allegedly linked to Russian businessman Yevgeniy Prigozhin, the US Treasury Department said in a press release on Wednesday.
"Today, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) took further action as part of its ongoing sanctions efforts regarding financier Yevgeniy Prigozhin (Prigozhin), by targeting entities located in Sudan, Hong Kong, and Thailand that have enabled his ability to evade U.S. sanctions. The actors targeted today have directly facilitated Prigozhin’s global operations and attempted to suppress and discredit protestors seeking democratic reforms in Sudan," according to the press release.
The black list contains Russian citizens Igor Lavrenkov, Andrey Mandel and Mikhail Potepkin, Russian company M Invest, Sudan’s Meroe Gold Co as well as three companies from Hong Kong and Thailand.
"Yevgeniy Prigozhin and his network are exploiting Sudan’s natural resources for personal gain and spreading malign influence around the globe," said Secretary Steven Mnuchin.
In a separate statement, Secretary of State Michael Pompeo said that the United States took steps to further curtail Yevgeny Prigozhin's destabilizing global activity.
"Prigozhin’s global malign activities are well-documented, as demonstrated by his designation under multiple U.S. sanctions authorities," said the chief of US diplomacy, but does not provide evidence.
Pompeo claimed that Prigozhin "relies on a network of front companies and facilitators" in an attempt to evade sanctions."
The State Department said the companies "facilitated more than 100 transactions exceeding $7.5 million" during 2018 and 2019 that were sent in the interest of Prigozhin.
"Prigozhin’s role in Sudan highlights the interplay between Russia’s paramilitary operations, support for preserving authoritarian regimes, such as that of former Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir, and exploitation of natural resources," the State Secretary said.
Blacklisting means a freeze on assets in the United States and a ban on American citizens or companies from doing business with those involved.
In February 2018, the U.S. Department of Justice indicted 13 Russian citizens and three law firms for interfering in the 2016 US presidential election. According to the prosecution, Prigozhin’s companies funded the St. Petersburg Internet Research Agency, which tried to support Donald Trump. On March 16, 2020, the Washington federal court upheld the prosecutor's motion to terminate the process. Russian authorities repeatedly rejected allegations of attempts to influence the course of US elections.


tass--2020-07-16--Koronavir anti-coronavirus drug has been released in Russia

MOSCOW , July 15 .
/TASS/ .
The Koronavir drug for the treatment of the novel coronavirus , has been released in Russia , the R-Pharm statement made public on Wednesday said .
The company noted that the drug was produced and labeled at its factory in the city of Yaroslavl .
`` To date 7,373 drug packages have been put in civil circulation , '' the statement said .
`` Koronavir is one of the first drugs in the world that fights not the complications from SARS-CoV-2 , but directly the virus itself , '' R-Pharm ’ s press @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Koronavir effectively blocks the replication of the virus , which was proved during clinical tests .
`` The Russian manufacturer marks its drug with the Data Matrix digital code .
The labeling is an analogue of the drug ’ s passport , it guarantees its authenticity and allows you to track the movement of each package : from production to delivery to a medical facility .
Authenticity can be checked using the Chestny Znak mobile application , '' an official at the press service said .
Under a decree of the government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since July 1 .
R-Pharm Group focuses on research , development , manufacturing and commercialization of pharmaceuticals , laboratory equipment and medical devices .
The company founded in 2001 operates in Russia , as well as in CIS states , the US , Germany , Japan and other countries .

MOSCOW, July 15. /TASS/. The Koronavir drug for the treatment of the novel coronavirus, has been released in Russia, the R-Pharm statement made public on Wednesday said.
The company noted that the drug was produced and labeled at its factory in the city of Yaroslavl.
"To date 7,373 drug packages have been put in civil circulation," the statement said.
"Koronavir is one of the first drugs in the world that fights not the complications from SARS-CoV-2, but directly the virus itself," R-Pharm’s press service stressed.
According to the company, Koronavir effectively blocks the replication of the virus, which was proved during clinical tests.
"The Russian manufacturer marks its drug with the Data Matrix digital code. The labeling is an analogue of the drug’s passport, it guarantees its authenticity and allows you to track the movement of each package: from production to delivery to a medical facility. Authenticity can be checked using the Chestny Znak mobile application," an official at the press service said.
Under a decree of the government, drug labeling is mandatory in Russia since July 1.
R-Pharm Group focuses on research, development, manufacturing and commercialization of pharmaceuticals, laboratory equipment and medical devices. The company founded in 2001 operates in Russia, as well as in CIS states, the US, Germany, Japan and other countries.


tass--2020-07-16--Russia to supply anti-coronavirus drug to Peru via a local company - RDIF

MOSCOW , July 16 .
/TASS/ .
Russia will supply the Avifavir anti-coronavirus drug to Peru via a local company , not through the country ’ s Ministry of Health or the National Center for Supply of Strategic Health Resources ( Cenares ) , a representative with the Russian Direct Investment Fund ( RDIF ) told TASS on Wednesday .
`` It is a Peruvian company Euro Dental Medical Import SAC , that acts as a counterparty in supplies of Avifavir to Peru , not the Ministry of Health or the National Center for Supply of Strategic Health Resources , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also noted that RDIF had received one more purchase request for the antiviral drug from the Peruvian armed forces .
He added that RDIF and ChemRar Group ( co-founder of the joint venture producing Avifavir -TASS ) are ready to fully meet the demand for the drug .
Earlier this week , head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund ( RDIF ) Kirill Dmitriev stated in his column for the Newsweek magazine that over 50 countries , including Peru , had submitted requests to procure the Russian-made Avifavir anti-coronavirus drug .
But the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The newspaper cited Cenares saying that the center was not going to make any purchases of the antiviral drug from Russia .
Cenares said that it only took part in a video conference dedicated to the launch of the product .
Avifavir is produced by a joint venture of RDIF and ChemRar Group .
It is one of the two registered COVID-19 drugs in the world .
Avifavir has also become the first Favipiravir-based drug in the world approved for treatment of COVID-19 .
It has shown high efficacy in clinical trials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
On May 29 , Avifavir received a registration certificate from Russia ’ s Ministry of Health and became the first Russian drug approved for treatment of COVID-19 patients .
On June 3 , the Ministry of Health included Avifavir in the seventh edition of the guidelines for the prevention , diagnosis and treatment of the novel coronavirus infection .
To date , the number of people infected with the new coronavirus in Peru exceeds 330,000 , more than 12,000 people have died .

MOSCOW, July 16. /TASS/. Russia will supply the Avifavir anti-coronavirus drug to Peru via a local company, not through the country’s Ministry of Health or the National Center for Supply of Strategic Health Resources (Cenares), a representative with the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) told TASS on Wednesday.
"It is a Peruvian company Euro Dental Medical Import SAC, that acts as a counterparty in supplies of Avifavir to Peru, not the Ministry of Health or the National Center for Supply of Strategic Health Resources," the representative explained.
The official also noted that RDIF had received one more purchase request for the antiviral drug from the Peruvian armed forces. He added that RDIF and ChemRar Group (co-founder of the joint venture producing Avifavir -TASS) are ready to fully meet the demand for the drug.
Earlier this week, head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) Kirill Dmitriev stated in his column for the Newsweek magazine that over 50 countries, including Peru, had submitted requests to procure the Russian-made Avifavir anti-coronavirus drug.
But the Peruvian newspaper El Comercio denied this information. The newspaper cited Cenares saying that the center was not going to make any purchases of the antiviral drug from Russia. Cenares said that it only took part in a video conference dedicated to the launch of the product.
Avifavir is produced by a joint venture of RDIF and ChemRar Group. It is one of the two registered COVID-19 drugs in the world. Avifavir has also become the first Favipiravir-based drug in the world approved for treatment of COVID-19. It has shown high efficacy in clinical trials, disrupting the reproduction mechanisms of coronavirus.
On May 29, Avifavir received a registration certificate from Russia’s Ministry of Health and became the first Russian drug approved for treatment of COVID-19 patients. On June 3, the Ministry of Health included Avifavir in the seventh edition of the guidelines for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of the novel coronavirus infection.
To date, the number of people infected with the new coronavirus in Peru exceeds 330,000, more than 12,000 people have died.


tass--2020-07-16--24 more coronavirus patients die in Moscow in past day

MOSCOW , July 16 .
/TASS/ .
Twenty-four more coronavirus patients died in Moscow during the past day , with the overall number of fatalities exceeding 4,258 the city ’ s anti-coronavirus crisis center said on Wednesday .
`` Twenty-four coronavirus-positive patients diagnosed with pneumonia have died in Moscow , '' it said , adding the overall number of coronavirus-related deaths in Moscow has reached 4,258 .
The coronavirus situation in Moscow , which was the most difficult in Russia , has improved visibly .
The overall number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Moscow stands at 230,642 , with 613 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day .
As many as 165,966 patients have recovered .
A campaign of voluntary testing for coronavirus antibodies is underway in Moscow .
According to the latest statistics , over 13,477,000 people have been infected worldwide and more than 581,000 deaths have been reported .
In addition , so far , over 7,870,000 individuals have recovered from the illness across the globe .
To date , 746,369 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Russia , with 523,249 patients having recovered from the disease .
Russia ’ s latest data indicates 11,770 fatalities nationwide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up an Internet hotline to keep the public updated on the coronavirus situation .

MOSCOW, July 16. /TASS/. Twenty-four more coronavirus patients died in Moscow during the past day, with the overall number of fatalities exceeding 4,258 the city’s anti-coronavirus crisis center said on Wednesday.
"Twenty-four coronavirus-positive patients diagnosed with pneumonia have died in Moscow," it said, adding the overall number of coronavirus-related deaths in Moscow has reached 4,258.
The coronavirus situation in Moscow, which was the most difficult in Russia, has improved visibly. The overall number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Moscow stands at 230,642, with 613 of them being registered during the past day. As many as 165,966 patients have recovered. A campaign of voluntary testing for coronavirus antibodies is underway in Moscow.
According to the latest statistics, over 13,477,000 people have been infected worldwide and more than 581,000 deaths have been reported. In addition, so far, over 7,870,000 individuals have recovered from the illness across the globe.
To date, 746,369 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Russia, with 523,249 patients having recovered from the disease. Russia’s latest data indicates 11,770 fatalities nationwide. Earlier, the Russian government set up an Internet hotline to keep the public updated on the coronavirus situation.


tass--2020-07-15--Outsourcing to ease Russian-Iranian trade amid sanctions, says official

TEHRAN , July 15 .
/TASS/ .
Outsourcing of international economic activities that implies trade through an integrator company , may ease economic cooperation between Russia and Iran amid sanctions , Chairman of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry ’ s Russian-Iranian Business Council ( RIBC ) Vladimir Obydenov said in an interview with TASS .
`` There is a way [ to ease trade amid sanctions ] that we have already launched .
The issue is about outsourcing of international economic activities , '' he said , adding that the mechanism is relevant as Russian producers may be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because of US sanctions .
The system `` implies that a company established specifically for those purposes takes on the role of seller of products made by a Russian producer , which is unwilling to display trade with Iran due to some circumstances , '' Obydenov said .
`` It purchases goods from the producer and later enters into an agreement on their supply to the Iranian side , '' he added .
`` Several such companies have been set up at the RIBC , obtaining required accreditation at respective Russian state bodies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` as of today they all are completely ready for the work with Iranian partners . ''
Teheran was disconnected from the international payment system SWIFT in 2018 , which told adversely on Iranian businesses ’ relations with foreign partners .

TEHRAN, July 15. /TASS/. Outsourcing of international economic activities that implies trade through an integrator company, may ease economic cooperation between Russia and Iran amid sanctions, Chairman of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s Russian-Iranian Business Council (RIBC) Vladimir Obydenov said in an interview with TASS.
"There is a way [to ease trade amid sanctions] that we have already launched. The issue is about outsourcing of international economic activities," he said, adding that the mechanism is relevant as Russian producers may be reluctant to make deals with Iranian businesses because of US sanctions.
The system "implies that a company established specifically for those purposes takes on the role of seller of products made by a Russian producer, which is unwilling to display trade with Iran due to some circumstances," Obydenov said. "It purchases goods from the producer and later enters into an agreement on their supply to the Iranian side," he added.
"Several such companies have been set up at the RIBC, obtaining required accreditation at respective Russian state bodies," Chairman said, adding that "as of today they all are completely ready for the work with Iranian partners."
Teheran was disconnected from the international payment system SWIFT in 2018, which told adversely on Iranian businesses’ relations with foreign partners.


tass--2020-07-15--Russia calling on Georgia to cease border provocations and begin dialogue

MOSCOW , July 15 .
/TASS/ .
Moscow is calling on Tbilisi to cease provocations on the border with Russia , Abkhazia and South Ossetia and to use the existing platforms for dialogue , the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a commentary published on Wednesday .
`` We are calling on the Georgian government to put an end to provocative actions and statements and to use the existing dialogue formats with Russia , Abkhazia and South Ossetia , including the regional Incident Prevention and Response Mechanisms , Geneva Discussions on Security and Stability in Transcaucasia and the informal negotiation channel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ order to resolve the existing issues in a mutually beneficial constructive manner .
We expect the Georgian government to apply more efforts to raise public awareness in order to avoid new illegal border crossings , '' the commentary reads .
`` We have noted with concern the increased incidents of illegal crossings of the border with Russia , Abkhazia and South Ossetia from the side of Georgia , '' the ministry stated , adding that those incidents point to the need for direct talks between Georgia , Sukhum and Tskhinval .
`` We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made by the State Department and the US Embassy in Tbilisi , in which the Americans are making excuses for their Georgian proteges , as they are prone to do , shifting all the blame on Moscow and Tskhinval .
At the very least , this undermines Washington ’ s position as an unbiased participant of the Geneva discussions , '' Russian diplomats added .
The Russian Foreign Ministry reminded that on June 6 , Russian border guards had detained three Georgian citizens who illegally crossed the border near the Abkhaz settlement of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ armed Georgian citizen was detained in Russia ’ s Dagestan 600 meters away from the border .
On July 9 , another Georgian citizen was detained in Dagestan .
On July 11 , a Georgian resident entered the territory of South Ossetia and opened fire on border guards , after which he was detained .

MOSCOW, July 15. /TASS/. Moscow is calling on Tbilisi to cease provocations on the border with Russia, Abkhazia and South Ossetia and to use the existing platforms for dialogue, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a commentary published on Wednesday.
"We are calling on the Georgian government to put an end to provocative actions and statements and to use the existing dialogue formats with Russia, Abkhazia and South Ossetia, including the regional Incident Prevention and Response Mechanisms, Geneva Discussions on Security and Stability in Transcaucasia and the informal negotiation channel between Grigory Karasin and Zurab Abashidze in order to resolve the existing issues in a mutually beneficial constructive manner. We expect the Georgian government to apply more efforts to raise public awareness in order to avoid new illegal border crossings," the commentary reads.
"We have noted with concern the increased incidents of illegal crossings of the border with Russia, Abkhazia and South Ossetia from the side of Georgia," the ministry stated, adding that those incidents point to the need for direct talks between Georgia, Sukhum and Tskhinval.
"We would like to note the provocative statements made by the State Department and the US Embassy in Tbilisi, in which the Americans are making excuses for their Georgian proteges, as they are prone to do, shifting all the blame on Moscow and Tskhinval. At the very least, this undermines Washington’s position as an unbiased participant of the Geneva discussions," Russian diplomats added.
The Russian Foreign Ministry reminded that on June 6, Russian border guards had detained three Georgian citizens who illegally crossed the border near the Abkhaz settlement of Alakumkhara. On June 13, an armed Georgian citizen was detained in Russia’s Dagestan 600 meters away from the border. On July 9, another Georgian citizen was detained in Dagestan. On July 11, a Georgian resident entered the territory of South Ossetia and opened fire on border guards, after which he was detained.


tass--2020-07-17--Acting Khabarovsk governor to be appointed by president soon — envoy

MOSCOW , July 17 .
/TASS/ .
Russian President Vladimir Putin will soon appoint acting governor of Russia ’ s @ @ @ @ @ Deputy Prime Minister and Presidential Plenipotentiary Representative to the Far Eastern Federal District Yuri Trutnev @ @ @ @ @ The matter will be handled by the Russian president .
He will make the decision @ @ @ @ @ ’ stance .
I don ’ t know when a report of this kind will @ @ @ @ @ think it won ’ t take long , and the decision will be made very @ @ @ @ @ of such decisions leads to certain instability .
People don ’ t understand what is @ @ @ @ @ said during a working trip to the Russian Far East .

MOSCOW, July 17. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin will soon appoint acting governor of Russia’s Far Eastern Khabarovsk Region, Deputy Prime Minister and Presidential Plenipotentiary Representative to the Far Eastern Federal District Yuri Trutnev said on Friday.
"The matter will be handled by the Russian president. He will make the decision, based on the investigators’ stance. I don’t know when a report of this kind will be made, but I think it won’t take long, and the decision will be made very soon, because the absence of such decisions leads to certain instability. People don’t understand what is going on," Trutnev said during a working trip to the Russian Far East.


tass--2020-07-17--Turkey pledges to ensure safety of info about S-400 systems purchased from Russia

ANKARA , July 17 .
/TASS/ .
Turkey guarantees to ensure the safety of information about the S-400 air defense systems it had purchased from Moscow , the head of the Turkish Presidency of Defense Industries , Ismail Demir , has said .
Defense News reported last month that US senator John Thune had proposed an amendment to the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act ( NDAA ) that would allow to buy Russian-made S-400 air defense systems from Turkey using the US Army ’ s missile procurement account .
According to the newspaper this move will make it possible to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over Turkey ’ s participation in a program to produce F-35 Lightning II fifth-generation fighter jets .
`` Russia expressed its concern about [ the safety ] of S-400 data , and Turkey promises to protect it , '' the Milliyet newspaper quoted the official as saying on Thursday .
Demir also said that from the very start , Ankara has planned to integrate the Russian-made systems into its defense .
Russia said in September 2017 that it had signed a $ 2.5 bln contract for supplies of its S-400 missile systems with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contract was delivered to Ankara by air transport in July 2019 .
The United States and NATO have been seeking to break down the deal .
The White House said in mid-July that `` Turkey ’ s decision to purchase Russian S-400 air defense systems renders its continued involvement with the F-35 impossible .
`` .

ANKARA, July 17. /TASS/. Turkey guarantees to ensure the safety of information about the S-400 air defense systems it had purchased from Moscow, the head of the Turkish Presidency of Defense Industries, Ismail Demir, has said.
Defense News reported last month that US senator John Thune had proposed an amendment to the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would allow to buy Russian-made S-400 air defense systems from Turkey using the US Army’s missile procurement account. According to the newspaper this move will make it possible to overcome the impasse between Washington and Ankara over Turkey’s participation in a program to produce F-35 Lightning II fifth-generation fighter jets.
"Russia expressed its concern about [the safety] of S-400 data, and Turkey promises to protect it," the Milliyet newspaper quoted the official as saying on Thursday.
Demir also said that from the very start, Ankara has planned to integrate the Russian-made systems into its defense.
Russia said in September 2017 that it had signed a $2.5 bln contract for supplies of its S-400 missile systems with Turkey. The first batch under the contract was delivered to Ankara by air transport in July 2019.
The United States and NATO have been seeking to break down the deal. The White House said in mid-July that "Turkey’s decision to purchase Russian S-400 air defense systems renders its continued involvement with the F-35 impossible.".


tass--2020-07-17--US needs billions to adjust missile shield for hypersonic missiles — Russian official

MOSCOW , July 17 .
/TASS/ .
The United States will have to spend hundreds of billions of dollars to @ @ @ @ @ efficient against hypersonic missiles , chief of the Russian National Centre for Nuclear Risk Reduction @ @ @ @ @ interview published by the Krasnaya Zvezda newspaper on Friday .
`` In the conditions when @ @ @ @ @ the US defense industry will need additional hundreds of billions of dollars to upgrade its @ @ @ @ @ acceptable degree of efficiency , '' Ryzhkov said , adding that this is exactly what @ @ @ @ @ .
In his words `` hundreds of billions of dollars of US taxpayers '' have @ @ @ @ @ the missile shield .

MOSCOW, July 17. /TASS/. The United States will have to spend hundreds of billions of dollars to make its existing missile shield efficient against hypersonic missiles, chief of the Russian National Centre for Nuclear Risk Reduction Sergei Ryzhkov said in an interview published by the Krasnaya Zvezda newspaper on Friday.
"In the conditions when hypersonic missile systems appear, the US defense industry will need additional hundreds of billions of dollars to upgrade its existing missile shield to the acceptable degree of efficiency," Ryzhkov said, adding that this is exactly what the US defense industry wants.
In his words "hundreds of billions of dollars of US taxpayers" have already been spent to create the missile shield.


tass--2020-07-17--Serbia expects to unveil WWII monument in Belgrade during Putin's visit in October

BELGRADE , July 17 .
/TASS/ .
The Serbian authorities expect to unveil a World War II memorial during Russian President Vladimir Putin ’ s visit to Belgrade in October , the Serbian Ministry of Labour , Employment , Veteran and Social Policy said .
`` Minister of Labour , Employment , Veteran and Social Policy Zoran Dordevic discussed Russian President Vladimir Putin ’ s visit to Belgrade , due this October , with Russia ’ s Ambassador to Serbia Alexander Botsan-Kharchenko .
The minister announced plans to unveil the Eternal Flame monument in the Liberators of Belgrade Memorial Park @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' the ministry ’ s press service said in a statement .
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday that Putin ’ s visit to Serbia is on the agenda , but its exact date is yet to be set via diplomatic channels .
On February 17 , Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu laid a stone into the future monument ’ s foundation .
The monument , designed by Russian artist Andrei Tyrtyshnikov , is being built with support from the Russian Embassy in Serbia , the Belgrade Mayor ’ s Office @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Serbian office of Russia ’ s Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States , Compatriots Living Abroad and International Humanitarian Cooperation ( Rossotrudnichestvo ) , and businesses from the two states .
About 8,000 Soviet soldiers and officers perished during the liberation of Yugoslavia , including 4,350 Red Army servicemen who died liberating Belgrade .

BELGRADE, July 17. /TASS/. The Serbian authorities expect to unveil a World War II memorial during Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Belgrade in October, the Serbian Ministry of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Policy said.
"Minister of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Policy Zoran Dordevic discussed Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Belgrade, due this October, with Russia’s Ambassador to Serbia Alexander Botsan-Kharchenko. The minister announced plans to unveil the Eternal Flame monument in the Liberators of Belgrade Memorial Park during the Russian president’s visit," the ministry’s press service said in a statement.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday that Putin’s visit to Serbia is on the agenda, but its exact date is yet to be set via diplomatic channels.
On February 17, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu laid a stone into the future monument’s foundation. The monument, designed by Russian artist Andrei Tyrtyshnikov, is being built with support from the Russian Embassy in Serbia, the Belgrade Mayor’s Office, the Russian and Serbian defense ministries, the Serbian office of Russia’s Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States, Compatriots Living Abroad and International Humanitarian Cooperation (Rossotrudnichestvo), and businesses from the two states.
About 8,000 Soviet soldiers and officers perished during the liberation of Yugoslavia, including 4,350 Red Army servicemen who died liberating Belgrade.


tass--2020-07-17--Baku, Yerevan exchange statements on possibility of striking critical infrastructure

MOSCOW , July 16 .
/TASS/ .
Against the backdrop of the ongoing border conflict , Azerbaijan and Armenia exchanged harsh statements about the possibility of striking strategically important facilities on each other ’ s territory on Thursday .
`` The Armenian side should keep in mind that our armed forces have advanced missile systems in service , capable of conducting high-precision strikes on the Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant , which may result in a huge disaster for Armenia , '' Vagif Dargyakhly said .
He added that `` land topography of the Mingachevir water reservoir , protective land works @ @ @ @ @ @ @ systems in service with the country ’ s missile defense troops make a strike on this strategically important facility impossible . ''
Yerevan described the Azerbaijani defense ministry ’ s statement as `` a crime . ''
`` I would like to stress that Armenian officials have never mentioned the possibility of attacking Azerbaijan ’ s civilian infrastructure .
We even avoid shelling houses .
Our diplomats and politicians are already working on a statement about the possible strike on the Metsamor NPP .
Statements of this kind are a crime , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reporters .
The conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the highland region of Nagorno-Karabakh , a disputed territory that had been part of Azerbaijan before the Soviet Union break-up , but primarily populated by ethnic Armenians , broke out in February 1988 after the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region announced its withdrawal from the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic .
In 1992-1994 , tensions boiled over and exploded into large-scale military action for control over the enclave and seven adjacent territories after Azerbaijan lost control of them .
Talks on the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement have been ongoing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , led by its three co-chairs - Russia , France and the United States .
On July 12 , the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry accused the Armenian Armed Forces of an attempt to shell the republic ’ s positions in the border sector of Tovuz ( known as Tavush in Armenia ) .
According to the ministry , the attacks continued throughout the night .
Baku said 11 Azerbaijani servicemen had been killed since the clashes had begun .
For its part , the Armenian Defense Ministry said four servicemen were killed and 10 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ escalated after an attempted breach from the side of Azerbaijan .
Azerbaijan ’ s Mingachevir water reservoir was built on the Kura River to enable the construction of the Mingachevir Hydroelectric Power Plant .
The facility is critical for the country ’ s power generation sector and agriculture .
The security of the Mingachevir dam is among Azerbaijan ’ s most important national security issues .
According to experts , a vast section of the country ’ s territory will be flooded if the dam breaks .
The Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Armenia , went onstream in 1979 .
It was halted in 1989 , in the wake of the devastating 1988 Spitak earthquake , but resumed its operations in 1995 .
The plant ’ s Unit Two , the only active reactor at the station at the moment , accounts for one third of Armenia ’ s power generation .

MOSCOW, July 16. /TASS/. Against the backdrop of the ongoing border conflict, Azerbaijan and Armenia exchanged harsh statements about the possibility of striking strategically important facilities on each other’s territory on Thursday.
"The Armenian side should keep in mind that our armed forces have advanced missile systems in service, capable of conducting high-precision strikes on the Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant, which may result in a huge disaster for Armenia," Vagif Dargyakhly said.
He added that "land topography of the Mingachevir water reservoir, protective land works in the area and advanced air defense systems in service with the country’s missile defense troops make a strike on this strategically important facility impossible."
Yerevan described the Azerbaijani defense ministry’s statement as "a crime."
"I would like to stress that Armenian officials have never mentioned the possibility of attacking Azerbaijan’s civilian infrastructure. We even avoid shelling houses. Our diplomats and politicians are already working on a statement about the possible strike on the Metsamor NPP. Statements of this kind are a crime," Armenian Defense Ministry spokesman Artsrun Ovannisyan told reporters.
Border crisis
The conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the highland region of Nagorno-Karabakh, a disputed territory that had been part of Azerbaijan before the Soviet Union break-up, but primarily populated by ethnic Armenians, broke out in February 1988 after the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region announced its withdrawal from the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic. In 1992-1994, tensions boiled over and exploded into large-scale military action for control over the enclave and seven adjacent territories after Azerbaijan lost control of them. Talks on the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement have been ongoing since 1992 under the OSCE Minsk Group, led by its three co-chairs - Russia, France and the United States.
On July 12, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry accused the Armenian Armed Forces of an attempt to shell the republic’s positions in the border sector of Tovuz (known as Tavush in Armenia). According to the ministry, the attacks continued throughout the night. Baku said 11 Azerbaijani servicemen had been killed since the clashes had begun.
For its part, the Armenian Defense Ministry said four servicemen were killed and 10 injured, adding that border tensions had escalated after an attempted breach from the side of Azerbaijan.
Critically important facilities
Azerbaijan’s Mingachevir water reservoir was built on the Kura River to enable the construction of the Mingachevir Hydroelectric Power Plant. The facility is critical for the country’s power generation sector and agriculture. The security of the Mingachevir dam is among Azerbaijan’s most important national security issues. According to experts, a vast section of the country’s territory will be flooded if the dam breaks.
The Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant, the only nuclear power generation facility in Armenia, went onstream in 1979. It was halted in 1989, in the wake of the devastating 1988 Spitak earthquake, but resumed its operations in 1995. The plant’s Unit Two, the only active reactor at the station at the moment, accounts for one third of Armenia’s power generation.


tass--2020-07-17--Russia may be the first to finish coronavirus vaccine trials, says expert

MOSCOW , July 16./TASS/ .
The final , phase 3 , trials of a Russian vaccine against coronavirus developed by the Gamalei National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology may be completed quicker than in other countries , the head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund , Kirill Dmitriev , told the Vesti news program on Rossiya-1television on Thursday .
`` This is the final phase that is necessary to put the vaccine into active use .
And we believe that Russia will possibly go through this phase quicker than other countries , '' Dmitriev said .
He noted that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ large-scale human trials .
Human trials will involve thousands of people in Moscow , `` and we will also start conducting phase 3 in other countries , '' the head of the Direct Investment Fund said .
Phase 2 trials of this vaccine will be completed on August 3 , Dmitriev said on Thursday .
According to him , regulatory approval of the Russian vaccine for the use is expected in August-September .
According to forecasts from the Direct Investment Fund , 30 million doses of the vaccine will be produced in Russia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if necessary .
The vaccination of Russian nationals may be completed early in 2021 .
In late December 2019 , Chinese officials notified the World Health Organization ( WHO ) about the outbreak of a previously unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan , in central China .
Since then , cases of the novel coronavirus - named COVID-19 by the WHO - have been reported in every corner of the globe , including Russia .
On March 11 , 2020 , the WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic .
According to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been infected worldwide and more than 587,000 deaths have been reported .
In addition , so far , over 8,172,400 individuals have recovered from the illness across the globe .
To date , 752,797 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Russia , with 531,692 patients having recovered from the disease .
Russia ’ s latest data indicates 11,937 fatalities nationwide .

MOSCOW, July 16./TASS/. The final, phase 3, trials of a Russian vaccine against coronavirus developed by the Gamalei National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology may be completed quicker than in other countries, the head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, Kirill Dmitriev, told the Vesti news program on Rossiya-1television on Thursday.
"This is the final phase that is necessary to put the vaccine into active use. And we believe that Russia will possibly go through this phase quicker than other countries," Dmitriev said.
He noted that phase 3 trials implied switching over to large-scale human trials. Human trials will involve thousands of people in Moscow, "and we will also start conducting phase 3 in other countries," the head of the Direct Investment Fund said.
Phase 2 trials of this vaccine will be completed on August 3, Dmitriev said on Thursday. According to him, regulatory approval of the Russian vaccine for the use is expected in August-September.
According to forecasts from the Direct Investment Fund, 30 million doses of the vaccine will be produced in Russia in 2020, or even 50 million if necessary. The vaccination of Russian nationals may be completed early in 2021.
In late December 2019, Chinese officials notified the World Health Organization (WHO) about the outbreak of a previously unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan, in central China. Since then, cases of the novel coronavirus - named COVID-19 by the WHO - have been reported in every corner of the globe, including Russia.
On March 11, 2020, the WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic. According to the latest statistics, over 13,717,900 people have been infected worldwide and more than 587,000 deaths have been reported. In addition, so far, over 8,172,400 individuals have recovered from the illness across the globe.
To date, 752,797 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Russia, with 531,692 patients having recovered from the disease. Russia’s latest data indicates 11,937 fatalities nationwide.


tass--2020-07-17--Two Russian deputy foreign ministers discuss security at consultations with France

MOSCOW , July 16 .
/TASS/ .
Russian Deputy Foreign Ministers Sergey Ryabkov and Alexander Grushko had a substantial exchange of opinions on European and global security during Russian-French consultations in Paris , the Foreign Ministry announced Thursday .
`` A substantial exchange of opinions took place on European and global security , strategic stability , pressing issues of non-proliferation and arms control , prevention of arms race in space , Russia-EU and Russia-NATO relations , '' the announcement says .
The Foreign Ministry noted that the discussed agenda included `` the absence of political settlement of Syrian and Libyan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ preservation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action on the Iranian nuclear program , '' the situation in the Central African Republic and the Sahara-Sahel Region .
During the discussion of Ukraine , `` an emphasis was made on strict compliance with the Minsk agreements and the decisions of the December 9 , 2019 , Normandy Four Paris Summit . ''
The sides discussed the current state and perspectives of bilateral relations and confirmed the importance of Russian-French cooperation on other issues of international agenda , including information security , environmental protection , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus pandemic .

MOSCOW, July 16. /TASS/. Russian Deputy Foreign Ministers Sergey Ryabkov and Alexander Grushko had a substantial exchange of opinions on European and global security during Russian-French consultations in Paris, the Foreign Ministry announced Thursday.
"A substantial exchange of opinions took place on European and global security, strategic stability, pressing issues of non-proliferation and arms control, prevention of arms race in space, Russia-EU and Russia-NATO relations," the announcement says.
The Foreign Ministry noted that the discussed agenda included "the absence of political settlement of Syrian and Libyan conflicts, as well as importance of preservation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action on the Iranian nuclear program," the situation in the Central African Republic and the Sahara-Sahel Region. During the discussion of Ukraine, "an emphasis was made on strict compliance with the Minsk agreements and the decisions of the December 9, 2019, Normandy Four Paris Summit."
The sides discussed the current state and perspectives of bilateral relations and confirmed the importance of Russian-French cooperation on other issues of international agenda, including information security, environmental protection, climate change, and fight against the coronavirus pandemic.