tass--2020-12-18--Azerbaijan closes land border with Russia until March 2021

MOSCOW , December 18 .
/TASS/ .
Azerbaijan will close the land border with Russia until March 1 , 2021 due to a rise in COVID-19 cases in both countries , the Azerbaijani Embassy in Moscow informed TASS on Friday .
`` Due to a sharp increase in COVID-19 cases both in Russia and Azerbaijan and the introduction of strict quarantine measures in our country , the land state border between the Russian Federation ( the Republic of Dagestan ) and the Republic of Azerbaijan will be closed for citizen crossing until March 1 , 2021 , '' the embassy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic , Azerbaijan has documented 195,422 cases of COVID-19 .
The government introduced special quarantine measures in the country until January 31 , and from December 14 until January 18 , all restaurants , cafes and trade objects , excluding supermarkets and pharmacies , will be shut , and people will only be allowed to leave their houses using special text message permits .
Entry to 17 major cities and districts , including Baku , has been restricted .
Russia has documented 2,791,220 cases of COVID-19 , 2,228,633 patients have recovered and 49,762 @ @ @

MOSCOW, December 18. /TASS/. Azerbaijan will close the land border with Russia until March 1, 2021 due to a rise in COVID-19 cases in both countries, the Azerbaijani Embassy in Moscow informed TASS on Friday.
"Due to a sharp increase in COVID-19 cases both in Russia and Azerbaijan and the introduction of strict quarantine measures in our country, the land state border between the Russian Federation (the Republic of Dagestan) and the Republic of Azerbaijan will be closed for citizen crossing until March 1, 2021," the embassy said.
Since the start of the pandemic, Azerbaijan has documented 195,422 cases of COVID-19. The government introduced special quarantine measures in the country until January 31, and from December 14 until January 18, all restaurants, cafes and trade objects, excluding supermarkets and pharmacies, will be shut, and people will only be allowed to leave their houses using special text message permits. Entry to 17 major cities and districts, including Baku, has been restricted.
Russia has documented 2,791,220 cases of COVID-19, 2,228,633 patients have recovered and 49,762 have died.


tass--2020-12-18--EU sanctions against Belarus ‘stupid, short-sighted, flawed’, says Foreign Ministry

MINSK , December 18 .
/TASS/ .
The EU decision to impose yet another sanctions package against Belarus is short-sighted and does not achieve the intended goal , Belarusian Foreign Ministry spokesman Anatoly Glaz said Friday .
`` It is a stupid , short-sighted and all regards flawed decision that will only lead to negative consequences , including for those high goals and ideals that the EU allegedly care so much about .
Such steps never achieved its stated goal in the past and they will not now , '' he underscored .
The spokesman sees this EU decision as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ targeted campaign of mass pressure on our country . ''
`` A simple attempt of foreign meddling in the internal affairs of an independent state , despite all the talk from our European partners about supporting its sovereignty .
Also , there are no doubts left that these steps are actually aimed against regular Belarusians , '' Glaz said , adding that Minsk has prepared response measures to the EU sanctions .
`` Some of them would be rather sensitive .
Let certain European opponents not be surprised later and not try to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all clear as day , '' the spokesman said .
Glaz also disclosed that Minsk will take adequate actions to protect the rights and legal interests of its citizens and organizations that were hit by sanctions .
`` Everyone will be provided with aid .
In many cases , the EU decisions were not just absurd , but rather discrediting the common sense itself , '' the Foreign Ministry spokesman said .
`` How are thousands of workers from sanctioned enterprises are guilty before the EU ?
We expect not only the Belarusian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and other relevant organizations to take notice , '' Glaz said .
Besides , the spokesman asked `` what did a Belarusian doctor , an oncologist who has been saving lives for all his life , a former Health Minister [ current Grodno District Executive Committee head Vladimir Karanik - TASS ] scared the EU with so much ? ''
`` Is this a science fiction side-effect , when an Dr .
Evil must be declare in any situation ? ''
Glaz quipped .
Minsk also noted discrimination of a Belarusian journalist [ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ National Broadcasting Company ] `` only for voicing an opinion that the EU does not like and that does not coincide with the EU ’ s position . ''
Glaz expressed his hope that `` international journalist organizations and associations do not separate their colleagues into good and bad ones , will follow their principles , and will stand up to his defense , as they did in other cases . ''
`` We also have necessary instruments , and they will be engaged , '' Glaz claimed .
He expressed his bewilderment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ IT sector harm the EU with . ''
`` One thing is clear , though : the instigators of such decisions must bear responsibility for specific caused damage , including the economic one .
This is a brazen voluntarism of the EU bureaucracy must end someday .
We will try to not let it happen as it did last time : when decisions were found illegal , but no-one was found guilty , '' the spokesman said .
At the same time , the Foreign Ministry stated that Belarus is still ready for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` We are certain that settlement of ongoing disagreements is possibly only through an open , equal and mutually respectful dialogue .
We have always been open to such a dialogue , and we still are , '' the spokesman said .
Besides a number of Belarusian officials , the EU sanctions hit the Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant , the 140th Repair Plant , Beltehexport , Sinezis and Dana Holdings .
Belarusian business is forbidden from having any business with these companies .

MINSK, December 18. /TASS/. The EU decision to impose yet another sanctions package against Belarus is short-sighted and does not achieve the intended goal, Belarusian Foreign Ministry spokesman Anatoly Glaz said Friday.
"It is a stupid, short-sighted and all regards flawed decision that will only lead to negative consequences, including for those high goals and ideals that the EU allegedly care so much about. Such steps never achieved its stated goal in the past and they will not now," he underscored.
The spokesman sees this EU decision as a "primitive element of a wide-scaled targeted campaign of mass pressure on our country."
"A simple attempt of foreign meddling in the internal affairs of an independent state, despite all the talk from our European partners about supporting its sovereignty. Also, there are no doubts left that these steps are actually aimed against regular Belarusians," Glaz said, adding that Minsk has prepared response measures to the EU sanctions.
"Some of them would be rather sensitive. Let certain European opponents not be surprised later and not try to shift the blame. It’s all clear as day," the spokesman said.
Protection of interests
Glaz also disclosed that Minsk will take adequate actions to protect the rights and legal interests of its citizens and organizations that were hit by sanctions.
"Everyone will be provided with aid. In many cases, the EU decisions were not just absurd, but rather discrediting the common sense itself," the Foreign Ministry spokesman said.
"How are thousands of workers from sanctioned enterprises are guilty before the EU? We expect not only the Belarusian unions, but the Global Union Federation and other relevant organizations to take notice," Glaz said.
Besides, the spokesman asked "what did a Belarusian doctor, an oncologist who has been saving lives for all his life, a former Health Minister [current Grodno District Executive Committee head Vladimir Karanik - TASS] scared the EU with so much?"
"Is this a science fiction side-effect, when an Dr. Evil must be declare in any situation?" Glaz quipped.
Minsk also noted discrimination of a Belarusian journalist [Ivan Eismont, head of the Belarusian National Broadcasting Company] "only for voicing an opinion that the EU does not like and that does not coincide with the EU’s position."
Glaz expressed his hope that "international journalist organizations and associations do not separate their colleagues into good and bad ones, will follow their principles, and will stand up to his defense, as they did in other cases."
"We also have necessary instruments, and they will be engaged," Glaz claimed.
He expressed his bewilderment at "what could have the Belarusian IT sector harm the EU with."
"One thing is clear, though: the instigators of such decisions must bear responsibility for specific caused damage, including the economic one. This is a brazen voluntarism of the EU bureaucracy must end someday. We will try to not let it happen as it did last time: when decisions were found illegal, but no-one was found guilty," the spokesman said.
At the same time, the Foreign Ministry stated that Belarus is still ready for an equal dialogue with European partners.
"We are certain that settlement of ongoing disagreements is possibly only through an open, equal and mutually respectful dialogue. We have always been open to such a dialogue, and we still are," the spokesman said.
Besides a number of Belarusian officials, the EU sanctions hit the Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant, the 140th Repair Plant, Beltehexport, Sinezis and Dana Holdings. Belarusian business is forbidden from having any business with these companies.


tass--2020-12-18--Russian astronauts begin vaccination against COVID-19

MOSCOW , December 18 .
/TASS/ .
Russian astronauts and employees of the Gagarin Research and Test Cosmonaut Training Center have begun vaccination against COVID-19 , the statement published by Roscosmos on Friday informs .
`` Roscosmos cosmonauts and employees of the Cosmonaut Training Center joined the mass vaccination effort that began on December 15 , 2020 , '' the state corporation informed .
The statement informs that astronauts Oleg Artemyev and Nikolay Chub got the first vaccine shot .
They will receive the second shot in three weeks , the message says .
All astronauts and employees of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ medical examination beforehand .
Their condition will be monitored by doctors .
In early December , the Russian Federal Medical-Biological Agency informed TASS that a unit of astronauts and a number of Cosmonaut Training Center employees who come in direct contact with them during training would be vaccinated against COVID-19 .
The astronauts and the employees of the center will receive the Sputnik V vaccine developed by the Gamaleya Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology .
Russia registered the first COVID-19 vaccine in the world under the name of Sputnik V on August @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Gamaleya Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology .
Post-registration testing of the vaccine began in Moscow on September 7 , with first volunteers getting the first vaccine shot on September .
Overall , the trials include 40,000 people , 10,000 of them had received a placebo dose instead of the vaccine .

MOSCOW, December 18. /TASS/. Russian сosmonauts and employees of the Gagarin Research and Test Cosmonaut Training Center have begun vaccination against COVID-19, the statement published by Roscosmos on Friday informs.
"Roscosmos cosmonauts and employees of the Cosmonaut Training Center joined the mass vaccination effort that began on December 15, 2020," the state corporation informed.
The statement informs that сosmonauts Oleg Artemyev and Nikolay Chub got the first vaccine shot. They will receive the second shot in three weeks, the message says.
All сosmonauts and employees of the center that were vaccinated had undergone a medical examination beforehand. Their condition will be monitored by doctors.
In early December, the Russian Federal Medical-Biological Agency informed TASS that a unit of сosmonauts and a number of Cosmonaut Training Center employees who come in direct contact with them during training would be vaccinated against COVID-19. The сosmonauts and the employees of the center will receive the Sputnik V vaccine developed by the Gamaleya Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology.
Russia registered the first COVID-19 vaccine in the world under the name of Sputnik V on August 11. The vaccine was developed by the Gamaleya Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology. Post-registration testing of the vaccine began in Moscow on September 7, with first volunteers getting the first vaccine shot on September. Overall, the trials include 40,000 people, 10,000 of them had received a placebo dose instead of the vaccine.


tass--2020-12-18--Another 1 mln Moscow residents to be inoculated against COVID-19 in late December - Mayor

MOSCOW , December 18 .
/TASS/ .
Inoculation against the coronavirus for additional categories of residents which will open in Moscow on December 21 will involve about 1 mln people , Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported on Friday .
`` The vaccination against COVID-19 is gradually gaining momentum .
The city receives additional batches of a vaccine .
The construction of production facilities for Sputnik V in Technopolis Moscow is nearing completion .
Due to that , beginning on Monday , we are opening registration for the inoculation of new categories of Moscow residents .
These are transport , energy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of media outlets , '' the Mayor wrote in his blog .
`` In all , it is about 1 mln Moscow residents who can now protect themselves against COVID and decrease the risk of infection for their relatives and colleagues , '' he specified .
Earlier , the mayor expressed hope that during the next few weeks the inoculation would become accessible to all residents of the capital .
Currently , the vaccination is open to workers in the spheres of education , healthcare , culture , retail , staff of multifunctional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Moscow authorities plan to inoculate against the coronavirus 6-7 mln people .
Additionally , an issue of incentives for those inoculated may be considered .
According to the mayor , after being vaccinated the residents may return to living without restrictions .
The vaccination against the coronavirus in Moscow was launched on December 5 , during the period before December 17 about 15,000 people were inoculated .
The electronic registration is accessible at the mos.ru portal two weeks in advance .
The vaccination stations are open daily from 08:00 to 20:00 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ open in the city .

MOSCOW, December 18. /TASS/. Inoculation against the coronavirus for additional categories of residents which will open in Moscow on December 21 will involve about 1 mln people, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported on Friday.
"The vaccination against COVID-19 is gradually gaining momentum. The city receives additional batches of a vaccine. The construction of production facilities for Sputnik V in Technopolis Moscow is nearing completion. Due to that, beginning on Monday, we are opening registration for the inoculation of new categories of Moscow residents. These are transport, energy, industrial workers as well as staff of media outlets," the Mayor wrote in his blog.
"In all, it is about 1 mln Moscow residents who can now protect themselves against COVID and decrease the risk of infection for their relatives and colleagues," he specified.
Earlier, the mayor expressed hope that during the next few weeks the inoculation would become accessible to all residents of the capital. Currently, the vaccination is open to workers in the spheres of education, healthcare, culture, retail, staff of multifunctional centers of state services, social workers.
Moscow authorities plan to inoculate against the coronavirus 6-7 mln people. Additionally, an issue of incentives for those inoculated may be considered. According to the mayor, after being vaccinated the residents may return to living without restrictions.
The vaccination against the coronavirus in Moscow was launched on December 5, during the period before December 17 about 15,000 people were inoculated. The electronic registration is accessible at the mos.ru portal two weeks in advance. The vaccination stations are open daily from 08:00 to 20:00. In all, 70 vaccination stations are open in the city.


tass--2020-12-18--Russia condemns Latvia’s persecution of Russian-speaking activists

MOSCOW , December 18 .
/TASS/ .
Moscow strongly condemns the ongoing political terror against Russian-speaking human rights activists and reporters , Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a statement published on Friday .
On Thursday , a Latvian court issued a ruling against local activist Alexander Gaponenko within the criminal case on inciting ethnic hatred .
`` We strongly condemn the ongoing political terror against leaders of the Russian-language human rights movement and the journalist community in Latvia , '' Zakharova said .
The diplomat noted that Russia does not see any distortion of historical facts in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only stated that in the 1930s and the 1940s , many citizens of Latvia voluntarily cooperated with Nazi Germany , '' she added .
Zakharova also expressed her regret over the violation of basic democratic rights in Latvia .
`` By doubling down on repressions against human rights activists and trying to silence them , the ruling nationalist leadership of Latvia practically shows its spiritual kinship to the pre-war pro-Nazi regime of Karlis Ulmanis , '' she said .
On April 20 , 2018 , the Latvian State Security Service informed that Gaponenko @ @ @ @ @ @ @ released from custody but forbidden from leaving Riga .
Criminal proceedings were launched against Gaponenko for inciting ethnic hatred .
Gaponenko links his arrest to his posts on social media and his activity against the reform aimed to switch all schools of national minorities to the Latvian language .

MOSCOW, December 18. /TASS/. Moscow strongly condemns the ongoing political terror against Russian-speaking human rights activists and reporters, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a statement published on Friday.
On Thursday, a Latvian court issued a ruling against local activist Alexander Gaponenko within the criminal case on inciting ethnic hatred. "We strongly condemn the ongoing political terror against leaders of the Russian-language human rights movement and the journalist community in Latvia," Zakharova said.
The diplomat noted that Russia does not see any distortion of historical facts in Gaponenko’s statements. "He only stated that in the 1930s and the 1940s, many citizens of Latvia voluntarily cooperated with Nazi Germany," she added.
Zakharova also expressed her regret over the violation of basic democratic rights in Latvia. "By doubling down on repressions against human rights activists and trying to silence them, the ruling nationalist leadership of Latvia practically shows its spiritual kinship to the pre-war pro-Nazi regime of Karlis Ulmanis," she said.
On April 20, 2018, the Latvian State Security Service informed that Gaponenko had been arrested. He was later released from custody but forbidden from leaving Riga. Criminal proceedings were launched against Gaponenko for inciting ethnic hatred. Gaponenko links his arrest to his posts on social media and his activity against the reform aimed to switch all schools of national minorities to the Latvian language.


tass--2020-12-18--Russian cosmonauts get first COVID-19 jabs

MOSCOW , December 18 .
/TASS/ .
Vaccination of Russian cosmonauts and staff of the Gagarin Research and Test Cosmonaut @ @ @ @ @ begun , the state space corporation Roscosmos said on Friday .
`` Roscosmos cosmonauts and @ @ @ @ @ Center joined the mass vaccination effort that began on December 15 , 2020 , '' @ @ @ @ @ reads .
Roscosmos informed that cosmonauts Oleg Artemyev and Nikolai Chub got the first vaccine @ @ @ @ @ the second shot in three weeks .

MOSCOW, December 18. /TASS/. Vaccination of Russian cosmonauts and staff of the Gagarin Research and Test Cosmonaut Training Center against COVID-19 has begun, the state space corporation Roscosmos said on Friday.
"Roscosmos cosmonauts and staff of the Cosmonaut Training Center joined the mass vaccination effort that began on December 15, 2020," the statement by the corporation reads.
Roscosmos informed that cosmonauts Oleg Artemyev and Nikolai Chub got the first vaccine shot and are to receive the second shot in three weeks.


tass--2020-12-18--Every third Russian displays signs of depression during pandemic, scientist says

MOSCOW , December 18 .
/TASS/ .
Every third Russian citizen reported symptoms of a depressive disorder in 2020 which indicates a negative influence of the pandemic on the psychological state of people , Head of the Laboratory of Social and Economic Psychology of the Institute of Psychology of the Russian Academy of Sciences Timofei Nestik said at a general meeting of professors of the Russian Academy of Sciences on Friday .
`` [ The pandemic ] requires separation of people which hinders self-identification and has a prolonged nature which inevitably also affects the degree of psychological trauma to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We see that every third Russian reported symptoms of a depressive disorder and every fourth one experienced symptoms of an anxiety disorder .
We are talking about symptoms , this doesn ’ t mean that [ all these ] people are sick , '' the scientist said , adding that US residents , on the contrary , more frequently report symptoms of anxiety rather than those of depression .
He also noted that among the emerged causes of concern for Russians the strongest one is the fear of negative consequences of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same time , the perception of a massive threat represented by the spread of the coronavirus infection makes people more demanding of others , he noted .
`` Under the influence of this level of threats we become less tolerant of other points of view , of those breaching the accepted rules and in general much more demanding of protection which , we hope , the state should provide to us .
< … > Of course , in these conditions a need for simple solutions increases .
< … > We see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all sorts of conspiracy theories .
We become less critical [ when analyzing information ] , '' he added .
According to the latest global statistics , about 75 mln people have been infected worldwide and over 1.6 mln deaths have been reported .
To date , 2,791,220 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Russia , with 2,228,633 patients having recovered from the disease .
Russia ’ s latest data indicates 49,762 fatalities nationwide .
Earlier , the Russian government set up an Internet hotline to keep the public updated on the coronavirus @ @

MOSCOW, December 18. /TASS/. Every third Russian citizen reported symptoms of a depressive disorder in 2020 which indicates a negative influence of the pandemic on the psychological state of people, Head of the Laboratory of Social and Economic Psychology of the Institute of Psychology of the Russian Academy of Sciences Timofei Nestik said at a general meeting of professors of the Russian Academy of Sciences on Friday.
"[The pandemic] requires separation of people which hinders self-identification and has a prolonged nature which inevitably also affects the degree of psychological trauma to the population. Our studies included several measurements. We see that every third Russian reported symptoms of a depressive disorder and every fourth one experienced symptoms of an anxiety disorder. We are talking about symptoms, this doesn’t mean that [all these] people are sick," the scientist said, adding that US residents, on the contrary, more frequently report symptoms of anxiety rather than those of depression.
He also noted that among the emerged causes of concern for Russians the strongest one is the fear of negative consequences of the use of digital technologies. At the same time, the perception of a massive threat represented by the spread of the coronavirus infection makes people more demanding of others, he noted.
"Under the influence of this level of threats we become less tolerant of other points of view, of those breaching the accepted rules and in general much more demanding of protection which, we hope, the state should provide to us. <…> Of course, in these conditions a need for simple solutions increases. <…> We see that people get more inclined to trust all sorts of conspiracy theories. We become less critical [when analyzing information]," he added.
According to the latest global statistics, about 75 mln people have been infected worldwide and over 1.6 mln deaths have been reported. To date, 2,791,220 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Russia, with 2,228,633 patients having recovered from the disease. Russia’s latest data indicates 49,762 fatalities nationwide. Earlier, the Russian government set up an Internet hotline to keep the public updated on the coronavirus situation.


tass--2020-12-18--Russian economy can recover quicker than expected in 2021, says Central Bank chief

MOSCOW , December 18 .
/TASS/ .
The Russian economy will resume recovering in spring 2021 and can do it @ @ @ @ @ situation normalizes , Central Bank chief Elvira Nabiullina says on Friday .
`` We expect @ @ @ @ @ [ for the national economy - TASS ] next spring , '' she says .
@ @ @ @ @ and early fall shows that the recovery can progress rather quickly as the [ coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ Nabiullina adds .
The medium-term economic growth path will be largely influenced by further coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ across the globe , the nature of the recovery of private demand in the context @ @ @ @ @ and business behavior , and by the upcoming budget consolidation , '' the Central Bank @ @ @ @ @ press release .

MOSCOW, December 18. /TASS/. The Russian economy will resume recovering in spring 2021 and can do it fairly quickly as the coronavirus situation normalizes, Central Bank chief Elvira Nabiullina says on Friday.
"We expect stable restart of recovering growth [for the national economy - TASS] next spring," she says. "The experience of summer and early fall shows that the recovery can progress rather quickly as the [coronavirus] situation normalizes," Nabiullina adds.
The medium-term economic growth path will be largely influenced by further coronavirus pandemic developments in Russia and across the globe, the nature of the recovery of private demand in the context of potential change in consumer and business behavior, and by the upcoming budget consolidation," the Central Bank said earlier today in its press release.


tass--2020-12-18--Gov't needs to reduce its share in Russia’s banking sector, says Central Bank

For its part , the regulator plans to withdraw from the capital of all banks it has stakes in , @ @ @ @ @ believe that the state 's share in the banking sector should be reduced .
For @ @ @ @ @ firmly committed to the course of withdrawal from the capital of the banks in which @ @ @ @ @ we do this , the better , '' Nabiullina said during an online press conference @ @ @ @ @ Board of Directors of the Central Bank .
The head of the regulator noted that @ @ @ @ @ portfolio of shares in the banking sector .
She also said that the Cabinet adheres @ @ @ @ @ is necessary to think strategically about reduction of the state 's stake in the banking @ @

For its part, the regulator plans to withdraw from the capital of all banks it has stakes in, she added.
"We believe that the state's share in the banking sector should be reduced. For our part, we are firmly committed to the course of withdrawal from the capital of the banks in which we participate. The sooner we do this, the better," Nabiullina said during an online press conference following the meeting of the Board of Directors of the Central Bank.
The head of the regulator noted that the government has a significant portfolio of shares in the banking sector. She also said that the Cabinet adheres to the position that it is necessary to think strategically about reduction of the state's stake in the banking sector.


tass--2020-12-18--This week in photos: Atom-style Tabakov statue, Moon samples on Earth and Santa underwater

One in four Russians has antibodies to coronavirus , medical company says The biggest number of cases per day was @ @ @ @ @ , where the positive tests ’ share for G-class antibodies in December exceeded 60 %

Lukashenko says Putin promises he would regard attack on Belarus as attack on Russia
The Belarusian leader pointed out that NATO was quickly building up forces on the border with Belarus in Poland and in the Baltic countries
Read more


tass--2020-12-19--Up to 80% of Russians will be vaccinated against coronavirus by fall 2021, developer says

MOSCOW , December 19 .
/TASS/ .
Up to 80 % of Russians are expected to be vaccinated against coronavirus by the fall of 2021 , Director of the Gamaleya National Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology Alexander Gintsburg said in an interview with Rossiya 1 TV channel .
`` If a month , and this is quite realistic for our domestic consumption , we will produce 5-6 mln doses of vaccine , then by the end of fall 2021 we should vaccinate 70-80 % of our population , that is , this disease will be vaccine-controlled , '' he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first in the world to register a vaccine against coronavirus named Sputnik V , developed by the Gamaleya National Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology .
Later , another Russian vaccine was registered , developed by the Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology Vector .
The third vaccine , created by the Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immune-and-Biological Products of Russian Academy of Sciences might be registered soon .
Since the beginning of the pandemic , more than 75.7 mln people have been infected with coronavirus in the world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In Russia , according to the federal operational headquarters for the fight against coronavirus , 2,819,429 cases of coronavirus were registered , 2,254,742 people recovered , 50,347 died .

MOSCOW, December 19. /TASS/. Up to 80% of Russians are expected to be vaccinated against coronavirus by the fall of 2021, Director of the Gamaleya National Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology Alexander Gintsburg said in an interview with Rossiya 1 TV channel.
"If a month, and this is quite realistic for our domestic consumption, we will produce 5-6 mln doses of vaccine, then by the end of fall 2021 we should vaccinate 70-80% of our population, that is, this disease will be vaccine-controlled," he said.
On August 11, Russia was the first in the world to register a vaccine against coronavirus named Sputnik V, developed by the Gamaleya National Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology. Later, another Russian vaccine was registered, developed by the Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology Vector. The third vaccine, created by the Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immune-and-Biological Products of Russian Academy of Sciences might be registered soon.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, more than 75.7 mln people have been infected with coronavirus in the world, over 1.6 mln have died. In Russia, according to the federal operational headquarters for the fight against coronavirus, 2,819,429 cases of coronavirus were registered, 2,254,742 people recovered, 50,347 died.


tass--2020-12-19--Most serious period of fighting against COVID-19 will end in few months, Moscow mayor says

MOSCOW , December 19 .
/TASS/ .
Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin is confident that the most acute period of the @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus should end in a few months , he said in an interview with Rossiya @ @ @ @ @ I think we will fight COVID-19 for a long time , but the most acute @ @ @ @ @ few months , '' Sobyanin said .
Earlier , he said that the situation in @ @ @ @ @ first in Russia in terms of the number of cases , remains difficult , and @ @ @ @ @ remain in hospitals .

MOSCOW, December 19. /TASS/. Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin is confident that the most acute period of the fight against the spread of coronavirus should end in a few months, he said in an interview with Rossiya 1 TV channel.
"I think we will fight COVID-19 for a long time, but the most acute period should end in a few months," Sobyanin said.
Earlier, he said that the situation in the capital, which ranks first in Russia in terms of the number of cases, remains difficult, and almost 13,000 patients with coronavirus remain in hospitals.


tass--2020-12-19--Russia and its vaccine ‘unpopular’ in the West due to unfair competition - Kremlin

MOSCOW , December 19 .
/TASS/ .
The West 's attitude towards Russia and the Russian Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine @ @ @ @ @ , Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in an interview with Rossiya 1 TV channel .
@ @ @ @ @ in the West in general .
Not because it is bad , but because it @ @ @ @ @ '' Peskov said .
`` It is very simple : this is competition , not @ @ @ @ @ added .
On August 11 , Russia was the first in the world to register @ @ @ @ @ Sputnik V , developed by the Gamaleya National Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology .
Later @ @ @ @ @ registered , developed by the Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology Vector .
The third @ @ @ @ @ Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immune-and-Biological Products of Russian Academy of @ @ @ @ @ .

MOSCOW, December 19. /TASS/. The West's attitude towards Russia and the Russian Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine is related to competition issues, Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in an interview with Rossiya 1 TV channel.
"Russia is not popular in the West in general. Not because it is bad, but because it is becoming too good," Peskov said. "It is very simple: this is competition, not always fair," he added.
On August 11, Russia was the first in the world to register a vaccine against coronavirus named Sputnik V, developed by the Gamaleya National Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology. Later, another Russian vaccine was registered, developed by the Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology Vector. The third vaccine, created by the Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immune-and-Biological Products of Russian Academy of Sciences might be registered soon.


tass--2020-12-19--Roscosmos ready to send an additional supply of oxygen to ISS in February, if necessary

MOSCOW , December 19 .
/TASS/ .
Russia ’ s Roscosmos will be able to send an additional supply of oxygen to the ISS in February , if necessary , General Director of the organization Dmitry Rogozin told reporters .
`` First , the station itself has oxygen reserves .
That is , if it is necessary to replenish oxygen and nitrogen in the event of atmospheric pressure losses , we have such reserves .
And we are going to send a cargo ship to the ISS , our Progress from Baikonur , in February .
It already has a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He noted that , if necessary , part of the cargo can be sent by US cargo vehicles .
`` If necessary , we can use our relationship with NASA and send part of the cargo , including oxygen , with an American cargo ship , '' Rogozin explained .
The oxygen leakage situation on the International Space Station is under control , Rogozin added .
`` There is no need to worry , everything is fine , everything is under control , '' Rogozin stressed .
According to the head of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wake-up call '' that it is time `` to think about new structures . ''
Head of Russia ’ s space agency also promised to `` fix '' the problems of the International Space Station .
`` We are working with the crew , I am heading the commission for conducting flight tests of manned systems and complexes .
We will fix these problems , '' Rogozin told reporters .
He suggested that problems at the station could be associated with micrometeorites that affect the hull , and the station ’ s time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it , of course .
But nevertheless , I say it again - the question will still arise that everything has its time , '' said the head of the state corporation .
It was reported earlier , with reference to the negotiations between the ISS and the Russian Mission Control Center , that the Russian cosmonauts at the station were looking for a new place of leakage .
Cosmonaut Sergey Ryzhikov , stationed on the ISS , noted that air may be escaping through the transition chamber .
On the morning of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Earth that a possible air leak had been found in the intermediate chamber of the Russian Zvezda module .
Later , cosmonaut Anatoly Ivanishin said that the place of the leak looks like a curved scratch of 2-3 cm .
Later Ryzhikov specified the size of the crack of about 4.5 cm .
In November , Russian crew members took pictures of the alleged leak from the outside of the ISS during a spacewalk .
The cosmonauts did not notice any damage outside the station in the area of the crack .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ISS , a specialist from the Mission Control Center said that at the moment there was no understanding of an exact location of another air leak in the Zvezda module .
The specialist noted that gas reserves are now being lost .

MOSCOW, December 19. /TASS/. Russia’s Roscosmos will be able to send an additional supply of oxygen to the ISS in February, if necessary, General Director of the organization Dmitry Rogozin told reporters.
"First, the station itself has oxygen reserves. That is, if it is necessary to replenish oxygen and nitrogen in the event of atmospheric pressure losses, we have such reserves. And we are going to send a cargo ship to the ISS, our Progress from Baikonur, in February. It already has a supply of oxygen," Rogozin said.
He noted that, if necessary, part of the cargo can be sent by US cargo vehicles. "If necessary, we can use our relationship with NASA and send part of the cargo, including oxygen, with an American cargo ship," Rogozin explained.
The oxygen leakage situation on the International Space Station is under control, Rogozin added.
"There is no need to worry, everything is fine, everything is under control," Rogozin stressed.
According to the head of Roscosmos, the situation is a "wake-up call" that it is time "to think about new structures."
Micrometeorites
Head of Russia’s space agency also promised to "fix" the problems of the International Space Station.
"We are working with the crew, I am heading the commission for conducting flight tests of manned systems and complexes. We will fix these problems," Rogozin told reporters.
He suggested that problems at the station could be associated with micrometeorites that affect the hull, and the station’s time in service. "We will fix it, of course. But nevertheless, I say it again - the question will still arise that everything has its time," said the head of the state corporation.
It was reported earlier, with reference to the negotiations between the ISS and the Russian Mission Control Center, that the Russian cosmonauts at the station were looking for a new place of leakage. Cosmonaut Sergey Ryzhikov, stationed on the ISS, noted that air may be escaping through the transition chamber.
On the morning of October 15, the ISS crew reported to Earth that a possible air leak had been found in the intermediate chamber of the Russian Zvezda module. Later, cosmonaut Anatoly Ivanishin said that the place of the leak looks like a curved scratch of 2-3 cm. Later Ryzhikov specified the size of the crack of about 4.5 cm. In November, Russian crew members took pictures of the alleged leak from the outside of the ISS during a spacewalk. The cosmonauts did not notice any damage outside the station in the area of the crack.
On December 18, during negotiations with the ISS, a specialist from the Mission Control Center said that at the moment there was no understanding of an exact location of another air leak in the Zvezda module. The specialist noted that gas reserves are now being lost.


tass--2020-12-19--Coronavirus epidemic in Russia may end by spring or even earlier, top sanitary doctor says

MOSCOW , December 19 .
/TASS/ .
The coronavirus pandemic may end in Russia by spring or even earlier , @ @ @ @ @ for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Welfare Anna Popova said on Saturday .
@ @ @ @ @ be over by spring , if we try , it may end earlier .
It @ @ @ @ @ '' she said in an interview with Rossiya 1 TV channel .
Russian Health Minister @ @ @ @ @ will help in the fight against the pandemic , but `` the circulation of the @ @ @ @ @ to a certain extent .
`` .

MOSCOW, December 19. /TASS/. The coronavirus pandemic may end in Russia by spring or even earlier, Head of the Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Welfare Anna Popova said on Saturday.
"Well, it will be over by spring, if we try, it may end earlier. It depends on everyone today," she said in an interview with Rossiya 1 TV channel.
Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko confirmed that vaccination will help in the fight against the pandemic, but "the circulation of the virus is likely to remain to a certain extent.".


tass--2020-12-19--Russia will soon start testing single influenza and coronavirus vaccine

MOSCOW , December 19 .
/TASS/ .
The decision to switch to expanded preclinical studies of a combined influenza and @ @ @ @ @ at the moment , General Director of the State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology @ @ @ @ @ an interview with Rossiya 1 TV channel .
`` A vaccine based on a recombinant @ @ @ @ @ will provide protection against both seasonal variants of influenza viruses and against the new coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ already been tested in laboratory animals , it has shown its immunogenicity , and a @ @ @ @ @ to switch to expanded preclinical studies , '' he said .

MOSCOW, December 19. /TASS/. The decision to switch to expanded preclinical studies of a combined influenza and coronavirus vaccine is being made at the moment, General Director of the State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology Vektor Rinat Maksyutov said in an interview with Rossiya 1 TV channel.
"A vaccine based on a recombinant influenza virus that we expect will provide protection against both seasonal variants of influenza viruses and against the new coronavirus, this vaccine prototype has already been tested in laboratory animals, it has shown its immunogenicity, and a decision is now being made to switch to expanded preclinical studies," he said.


tass--2020-12-19--Russia plans to vaccinate 60% of its adult population against coronavirus

MOSCOW , December 19 .
/TASS/ .
About 60 % of the adult population of Russia is planned to be @ @ @ @ @ Minister Mikhail Murashko said in an interview with Rossiya 1 TV channel .
`` We @ @ @ @ @ of the adult population , '' he said .
Since the beginning of the pandemic @ @ @ @ @ people have been infected with coronavirus in the world , over 1.6 mln have died @ @ @ @ @ to the federal operational headquarters for the fight against coronavirus , 2,819,429 cases of coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ recovered , 50,347 died .

MOSCOW, December 19. /TASS/. About 60% of the adult population of Russia is planned to be vaccinated against coronavirus, Health Minister Mikhail Murashko said in an interview with Rossiya 1 TV channel.
"We plan to vaccinate 60% of the adult population," he said.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, more than 75.7 mln people have been infected with coronavirus in the world, over 1.6 mln have died. In Russia, according to the federal operational headquarters for the fight against coronavirus, 2,819,429 cases of coronavirus were registered, 2,254,742 people recovered, 50,347 died.


tass--2020-12-19--Vaccine against measles and coronavirus under development in Russia

MOSCOW , December 19 .
/TASS/ .
A vaccine capable of simultaneously protecting against measles and coronavirus is being developed @ @ @ @ @ studies on animals have shown that its single administration forms a strong immune response , @ @ @ @ @ Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology Vektor Rinat Maksyutov said in an interview with Rossiya @ @ @ @ @ The vaccine is based on the recombinant measles virus both against the new coronavirus and @ @ @ @ @ viral disease - measles , at the moment all strains have been obtained , they @ @ @ @ @ collection .
The first studies have been carried out on laboratory animals , and it @ @ @ @ @ single dose ensures formation of a strong immune response , '' he said .

MOSCOW, December 19. /TASS/. A vaccine capable of simultaneously protecting against measles and coronavirus is being developed in Russia. The first studies on animals have shown that its single administration forms a strong immune response, General Director of the State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology Vektor Rinat Maksyutov said in an interview with Rossiya 1 TV channel.
"The vaccine is based on the recombinant measles virus both against the new coronavirus and against a very highly contagious viral disease - measles, at the moment all strains have been obtained, they are included in our state collection. The first studies have been carried out on laboratory animals, and it has already shown that a single dose ensures formation of a strong immune response," he said.


tass--2020-12-19--Russia reports 28,209 new coronavirus cases over day

MOSCOW , December 19 .
/TASS/ .
The number of coronavirus cases in Russia increased by 28,209 over past day .
The total number of cases reached 2,819,429 , the operational headquarters for the fight against coronavirus told reporters on Saturday .
In relative terms , the increase , according to the headquarters , reached 1 % .
The lowest growth rates were recorded per day in the Nenets Autonomous District ( 0.3 % ) , the Tyva Republic , the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District , the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous District , the Mari El Republic , the Novosibirsk Region ( 0.6 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 3,754 cases were detected per day in St. Petersburg , 1,514 - in the Moscow region , 502 - in the Nizhny Novgorod region , 405 - in the Sverdlovsk region , 395 - in the Arkhangelsk region .
Currently , 514,340 people are undergoing treatment in Russia .
According to the headquarters , the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Moscow increased by 6,459 per day to 728,637 .
Meanwhile , 5,925 patients were discharged in Moscow after recovery ( 5,821 a day earlier ) .
In total , 562,953 , or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recovered in the city .
Now 155 367 people undergo treatment , the headquarters said .
The number of discharged patients in Russia who were previously diagnosed with coronavirus increased by 26,109 over day .
A total of 2,254,742 people have already recovered .
According to the headquarters , the share of those who have recovered is about 80 % of the total number of cases .
In particular , 3,025 patients in St. Petersburg , 1,085 in the Moscow region , 481 in the Stavropol Territory , 473 in the Khabarovsk Territory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were discharged per day after recovery .
According to the headquarters , the number of deaths from coronavirus in Russia increased by 585 per day to 50,374 .
Meanwhile , 611 deaths were recorded the day before .
The conditional mortality rate of the disease ( the final can be determined only after the end of the epidemic ) increased to 1.79 % , having updated the maximum since the beginning of the pandemic , the headquarters said .
In particular , over the past day , 75 deaths were registered in St. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 33 - in the Moscow region , 25 - in Rostov , 21 - in Voronezh , 18 - in the Perm region .

MOSCOW, December 19. /TASS/. The number of coronavirus cases in Russia increased by 28,209 over past day. The total number of cases reached 2,819,429, the operational headquarters for the fight against coronavirus told reporters on Saturday.
In relative terms, the increase, according to the headquarters, reached 1%.
The lowest growth rates were recorded per day in the Nenets Autonomous District (0.3%), the Tyva Republic, the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District, the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous District, the Mari El Republic, the Novosibirsk Region (0.6% each).
In particular, 3,754 cases were detected per day in St. Petersburg, 1,514 - in the Moscow region, 502 - in the Nizhny Novgorod region, 405 - in the Sverdlovsk region, 395 - in the Arkhangelsk region.
Currently, 514,340 people are undergoing treatment in Russia.
Coronavirus cases in Moscow
According to the headquarters, the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Moscow increased by 6,459 per day to 728,637.
A day earlier, 6,937 cases were detected in Moscow.
Meanwhile, 5,925 patients were discharged in Moscow after recovery (5,821 a day earlier). In total, 562,953, or 77.3% of cases, have already recovered in the city. Now 155 367 people undergo treatment, the headquarters said.
Recoveries
The number of discharged patients in Russia who were previously diagnosed with coronavirus increased by 26,109 over day. A total of 2,254,742 people have already recovered.
According to the headquarters, the share of those who have recovered is about 80% of the total number of cases.
In particular, 3,025 patients in St. Petersburg, 1,085 in the Moscow region, 481 in the Stavropol Territory, 473 in the Khabarovsk Territory, 456 in the Nizhny Novgorod Region were discharged per day after recovery.
Fatalities
According to the headquarters, the number of deaths from coronavirus in Russia increased by 585 per day to 50,374.
Meanwhile, 611 deaths were recorded the day before.
The conditional mortality rate of the disease (the final can be determined only after the end of the epidemic) increased to 1.79%, having updated the maximum since the beginning of the pandemic, the headquarters said.
In particular, over the past day, 75 deaths were registered in St. Petersburg, 74 - in Moscow, 33 - in the Moscow region, 25 - in Rostov, 21 - in Voronezh, 18 - in the Perm region.


tass--2020-12-19--Number of recovered patients with coronavirus in Moscow rises by 5,925

MOSCOW , December 19 .
/TASS/ .
The number of patients who recovered from coronavirus increased in Moscow by 5,925 @ @ @ @ @ 562,953 , the Moscow operational headquarters for control and monitoring of the infection situation reported @ @ @ @ @ 5,925 patients recovered in the capital , after undergoing treatment for coronavirus .
The total @ @ @ @ @ recovered from the infection has increased to 562,953 , '' the headquarters said .
They @ @ @ @ @ additional research to confirm that a person has no disease .
At discharge , all @ @ @ @ @ monitored are referred to .
Recovered residents of Moscow can become plasma donors .

MOSCOW, December 19. /TASS/. The number of patients who recovered from coronavirus increased in Moscow by 5,925 per day and amounted to 562,953, the Moscow operational headquarters for control and monitoring of the infection situation reported on Saturday.
"Another 5,925 patients recovered in the capital, after undergoing treatment for coronavirus. The total number of people who have recovered from the infection has increased to 562,953," the headquarters said.
They recalled that doctors are conducting additional research to confirm that a person has no disease. At discharge, all patients who need to be monitored are referred to. Recovered residents of Moscow can become plasma donors.


tass--2020-12-19--Pompeo concedes Russia is among US enemies

NEW YORK , December 19 .
/TASS/ .
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has conceded that Russia is among enemies for the United States , he said in an interview with American journalist Mark Levin published by the State Department Friday .
Levin wondered what Pompeo thinks about certain Republic Party representatives ’ opinion that Russia is not an enemy for the country despite its alleged attempts to interfere in the US electoral process .
`` Mark , it is the case that I get asked all the time who ’ s our enemy , and the answer is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to undermine our way of life , our republic , our basic democratic principles .
Russia is certainly on that list , '' the top US diplomat stressed .
Moreover , Pompeo verified the journalist ’ s claim that Russia is `` aiming really big nuclear missiles at the United States '' as `` very real . ''
He also highlighted publications in certain US media about the `` efforts in the cyber space '' ascribed to Russia .
`` We ’ ve seen this for an awfully long time , using asymmetric @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a place where they can impose costs on the United States , '' he concluded .
US security services are accusing Russia of interfering in the American electoral process in 2016 .
Former US Special Counsel Robert Mueller was investigating these alleged attempts for almost two years .
In particular , he was digging into the supposed collusion between Russian authorities and Donald Trump who later assumed the office of US president .
In the end , Mueller acknowledged that there had been no collusion .
Trump repeatedly rejected suspicions of any wrongful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign .
Moscow has also repeatedly denied allegations of election interference .

NEW YORK, December 19. /TASS/. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has conceded that Russia is among enemies for the United States, he said in an interview with American journalist Mark Levin published by the State Department Friday.
Levin wondered what Pompeo thinks about certain Republic Party representatives’ opinion that Russia is not an enemy for the country despite its alleged attempts to interfere in the US electoral process. "Mark, it is the case that I get asked all the time who’s our enemy, and the answer is we have lots of folks that want to undermine our way of life, our republic, our basic democratic principles. Russia is certainly on that list," the top US diplomat stressed.
Moreover, Pompeo verified the journalist’s claim that Russia is "aiming really big nuclear missiles at the United States" as "very real." He also highlighted publications in certain US media about the "efforts in the cyber space" ascribed to Russia. "We’ve seen this for an awfully long time, using asymmetric capabilities to try and put themselves in a place where they can impose costs on the United States," he concluded.
US security services are accusing Russia of interfering in the American electoral process in 2016. Former US Special Counsel Robert Mueller was investigating these alleged attempts for almost two years. In particular, he was digging into the supposed collusion between Russian authorities and Donald Trump who later assumed the office of US president. In the end, Mueller acknowledged that there had been no collusion. Trump repeatedly rejected suspicions of any wrongful contacts with Russian officials in the election campaign. Moscow has also repeatedly denied allegations of election interference.


tass--2020-12-19--France indicts four Pakistanis in attack near former Charlie Hebdo office - agency

TASS , December 19 .
Indictments were officially presented to four Pakistanis who were detained in the case focused on the attack near the former office of Charlie Hebdo , French satirical weekly magazine , in September 2020 , Agence France-Presse reported Friday , citing sources familiar with the investigation .
According to the agency , the men aged between 17 and 21 knew about the plan concocted by the attacker and could have encouraged him to resort to violence .
`` They share his ideology , one of them expressed hatred for France a few days prior to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told the agency .
The knife attack took place on September 25 , two staffers of the Premier Ligne agency , which currently occupies the former Charlie Hebdo office , were seriously injured .
A Pakistani man , 18 , was detained .
When questioned , he admitted his guilt , explaining his actions as retaliation to another publication of cartoons targeting Prophet Muhammad .
The interior minister qualified the case as terror attack .
The court handed down an indictment of attempted murder as part of terrorist plot and creation of a @ @ @ @

TASS, December 19. Indictments were officially presented to four Pakistanis who were detained in the case focused on the attack near the former office of Charlie Hebdo, French satirical weekly magazine, in September 2020, Agence France-Presse reported Friday, citing sources familiar with the investigation.
According to the agency, the men aged between 17 and 21 knew about the plan concocted by the attacker and could have encouraged him to resort to violence. "They share his ideology, one of them expressed hatred for France a few days prior to the operation," one of the sources told the agency.
The knife attack took place on September 25, two staffers of the Premier Ligne agency, which currently occupies the former Charlie Hebdo office, were seriously injured. A Pakistani man, 18, was detained. When questioned, he admitted his guilt, explaining his actions as retaliation to another publication of cartoons targeting Prophet Muhammad. The interior minister qualified the case as terror attack. The court handed down an indictment of attempted murder as part of terrorist plot and creation of a criminal terrorist cell.


tass--2020-12-19--US consulate general in Vladivostok shuts down, one in Yekaterinburg stops operation

WASHINGTON , December 19 .
/TASS/ .
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has decided to shut down the national @ @ @ @ @ s Vladivostok and suspend the operation of the diplomatic mission in Russia ’ s Yekaterinburg @ @ @ @ @ State Department told TASS Friday .
He explained that the decision was made to optimize @ @ @ @ @ diplomatic mission to Russia .
At the same time , no additional actions involving Russian @ @ @ @ @ are planned now .

WASHINGTON, December 19. /TASS/. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has decided to shut down the national consulate general in Russia’s Vladivostok and suspend the operation of the diplomatic mission in Russia’s Yekaterinburg, a spokesperson for the State Department told TASS Friday.
He explained that the decision was made to optimize the operation of the US diplomatic mission to Russia. At the same time, no additional actions involving Russian consulates general in the US are planned now.


tass--2020-12-18--Russian сosmonauts begin vaccination against COVID-19

MOSCOW , December 18 .
/TASS/ .
Russian сosmonauts and employees of the Gagarin Research and Test Cosmonaut Training Center have begun vaccination against COVID-19 , the statement published by Roscosmos on Friday informs .
`` Roscosmos cosmonauts and employees of the Cosmonaut Training Center joined the mass vaccination effort that began on December 15 , 2020 , '' the state corporation informed .
The statement informs that сosmonauts Oleg Artemyev and Nikolay Chub got the first vaccine shot .
They will receive the second shot in three weeks , the message says .
All сosmonauts and employees of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ medical examination beforehand .
Their condition will be monitored by doctors .
In early December , the Russian Federal Medical-Biological Agency informed TASS that a unit of сosmonauts and a number of Cosmonaut Training Center employees who come in direct contact with them during training would be vaccinated against COVID-19 .
The сosmonauts and the employees of the center will receive the Sputnik V vaccine developed by the Gamaleya Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology .
Russia registered the first COVID-19 vaccine in the world under the name of Sputnik V on August @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Gamaleya Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology .
Post-registration testing of the vaccine began in Moscow on September 7 , with first volunteers getting the first vaccine shot on September .
Overall , the trials include 40,000 people , 10,000 of them had received a placebo dose instead of the vaccine .

MOSCOW, December 18. /TASS/. Russian сosmonauts and employees of the Gagarin Research and Test Cosmonaut Training Center have begun vaccination against COVID-19, the statement published by Roscosmos on Friday informs.
"Roscosmos cosmonauts and employees of the Cosmonaut Training Center joined the mass vaccination effort that began on December 15, 2020," the state corporation informed.
The statement informs that сosmonauts Oleg Artemyev and Nikolay Chub got the first vaccine shot. They will receive the second shot in three weeks, the message says.
All сosmonauts and employees of the center that were vaccinated had undergone a medical examination beforehand. Their condition will be monitored by doctors.
In early December, the Russian Federal Medical-Biological Agency informed TASS that a unit of сosmonauts and a number of Cosmonaut Training Center employees who come in direct contact with them during training would be vaccinated against COVID-19. The сosmonauts and the employees of the center will receive the Sputnik V vaccine developed by the Gamaleya Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology.
Russia registered the first COVID-19 vaccine in the world under the name of Sputnik V on August 11. The vaccine was developed by the Gamaleya Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology. Post-registration testing of the vaccine began in Moscow on September 7, with first volunteers getting the first vaccine shot on September. Overall, the trials include 40,000 people, 10,000 of them had received a placebo dose instead of the vaccine.


tass--2020-12-20--Serbian government limiting entry to country during New Year holidays

BELGRADE , December 20 .
/TASS/ .
The Serbian Cabinet of Ministers has restricted the entry into the country for @ @ @ @ @ in view of the coronavirus pandemic .
The measure will come into force on December @ @ @ @ @ January 10 , the government told Tanjug news agency on Saturday .
Restrictive measures will @ @ @ @ @ foreign citizens .
Entry into the country will be allowed only subject to the available @ @ @ @ @ least 48 hours ’ prior .
Individuals without tests will be subject to 10-day home @ @ @ @ @ PCR testing in Serbia .
The 10-day isolation will not be mandatory if the test @ @ @ @ @ said .
According to the latest data , 3,888 new coronavirus were registered in Serbia @ @ @ @ @ of coronavirus cases reaching 296,528 .

BELGRADE, December 20. /TASS/. The Serbian Cabinet of Ministers has restricted the entry into the country for New Year and Christmas holidays in view of the coronavirus pandemic. The measure will come into force on December 21 and will last until January 10, the government told Tanjug news agency on Saturday.
Restrictive measures will apply to Serbian nationals and foreign citizens. Entry into the country will be allowed only subject to the available negative PCR test made at least 48 hours’ prior. Individuals without tests will be subject to 10-day home isolation and can take the PCR testing in Serbia. The 10-day isolation will not be mandatory if the test is negative, the Cabinet said.
According to the latest data, 3,888 new coronavirus were registered in Serbia, with the total number of coronavirus cases reaching 296,528.


tass--2020-12-20--White House cancels release of statement alleging Russia' involvement in cyber attack - AP

NEW YORK , December 20 .
/TASS/ .
White House officials planned to make a statement alleging that Russia had been involved in the hacker attack against computer systems of the US government but were instructed at the last minute not to release it , Associated Press news agency reports , citing a source .
`` Officials at the White House had been prepared to put out a statement Friday afternoon that accused Russia of being `` the main actor '' in the hack , but were told at the last minute to stand down , the news agency says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the conversations who spoke on condition of anonymity .
`` This is looking like it ’ s the worst hacking case in the history of America , '' the official said .
Reuters reported Monday that a group of hackers allegedly working for Russia carried out a cyber attack on December 13 to obtain unauthorized access to computer systems of the US Department of Homeland Security .
The department itself confirmed that cyber attack had taken place .
According to Reuters , the hackers got their hands on data from the Department of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed earlier US allegations Russian hackers were behind those cyberattacks .

NEW YORK, December 20. /TASS/. White House officials planned to make a statement alleging that Russia had been involved in the hacker attack against computer systems of the US government but were instructed at the last minute not to release it, The Associated Press news agency reports, citing a source.
"Officials at the White House had been prepared to put out a statement Friday afternoon that accused Russia of being "the main actor" in the hack, but were told at the last minute to stand down, the news agency says, citing a US official familiar with the conversations who spoke on condition of anonymity.
"This is looking like it’s the worst hacking case in the history of America," the official said.
Reuters reported Monday that a group of hackers allegedly working for Russia carried out a cyberattack on December 13 to obtain unauthorized access to computer systems of the US Department of Homeland Security. The department itself confirmed that cyberattack had taken place. According to Reuters, the hackers got their hands on data from the Department of State and the Pentagon.
Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov earlier dismissed US allegations Russian hackers were behind those cyberattacks.


tass--2020-12-19--Moscow's death toll from confirmed COVID-19 cases rises by 77 to 10,394

MOSCOW , December 19 .
/TASS/ .
The death toll from confirmed coronavirus cases has risen by 77 in Moscow @ @ @ @ @ , the Russian capital ’ s anti-coronavirus crisis center told reporters on Saturday .
`` @ @ @ @ @ in Moscow .
Their diagnoses of pneumonia were confirmed and they tested positive for coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ .
The death toll from confirmed cases of COVID-19 has risen to 10,394 in Moscow @ @ @ @ @ for most cases of COVID-19 in Russia .
As of December 19 , 728,637 COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ city .
At the same time , 562,953 patients recovered from the disease .
According @ @ @ @ @ over 75.7 million people have been infected with coronavirus worldwide and more than 1.6 million @ @ @ @ @ To date , 2,819,429 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Russia , with 2,254,742 patients @ @ @ @ @ .
Russia ’ s latest data indicates 50,347 fatalities nationwide .
Earlier , the Russian @ @ @ @ @ hotline to keep the public updated on the coronavirus situation .

MOSCOW, December 19. /TASS/. The death toll from confirmed coronavirus cases has risen by 77 in Moscow over the past 24 hours, the Russian capital’s anti-coronavirus crisis center told reporters on Saturday.
"Seventy-seven patients have passed away in Moscow. Their diagnoses of pneumonia were confirmed and they tested positive for coronavirus," the center informed.
The death toll from confirmed cases of COVID-19 has risen to 10,394 in Moscow. The Russian capital accounts for most cases of COVID-19 in Russia. As of December 19, 728,637 COVID-19 cases were recorded in the city. At the same time, 562,953 patients recovered from the disease.
According to the latest statistics, over 75.7 million people have been infected with coronavirus worldwide and more than 1.6 million deaths have been reported.
To date, 2,819,429 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Russia, with 2,254,742 patients having recovered from the disease. Russia’s latest data indicates 50,347 fatalities nationwide. Earlier, the Russian government set up an Internet hotline to keep the public updated on the coronavirus situation.


tass--2020-12-19--WHO reports over 700,000 new daily cases of COVID-19

GENEVA , December 19 .
/TASS/ .
More than 700,000 new confirmed cases of novel coronavirus have been recorded globally in the past day , pushing a total number of infections to 74.2 million , the World Health Organization ( WHO ) said in its daily bulletin on Saturday .
According to the WHO updates , the coronavirus-related deaths increased by over 13,000 to exceed 1.66 million .
As of 19.22 Moscow time on December 19 , as many as 74,299,042 coronavirus cases and 1,669,982 coronavirus-related deaths were registered across the globe .
The number of confirmed cases grew by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the number of fatalities increased by 13,289 .
The WHO statistics are based only on officially confirmed data provided by countries .
South and North America account for more than 50 % of new COVID-19 cases submitted to the WHO in the past 24 hours ( 352,665 ) .
Europe goes second ( 265,890 cases ) followed by South East Asia ( 35,166 ) .
Most COVID-19 cases are recorded in the United States ( 16,912,564 ) , followed by India ( 10,004,599 ) , Brazil ( 7,110,434 ) , Russia ( 2,819,429 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the UK ( 1,977,171 ) , Italy ( 1,921,778 ) , Spain ( 1,797,236 ) , Argentina ( 1,524,372 ) , Germany ( 1,471,238 ) , Colombia ( 1,468,795 ) , and Mexico ( 1,289,298 ) .

GENEVA, December 19. /TASS/. More than 700,000 new confirmed cases of novel coronavirus have been recorded globally in the past day, pushing a total number of infections to 74.2 million, the World Health Organization (WHO) said in its daily bulletin on Saturday.
According to the WHO updates, the coronavirus-related deaths increased by over 13,000 to exceed 1.66 million.
As of 19.22 Moscow time on December 19, as many as 74,299,042 coronavirus cases and 1,669,982 coronavirus-related deaths were registered across the globe. The number of confirmed cases grew by 700,846 in the past 24 hours and the number of fatalities increased by 13,289.
The WHO statistics are based only on officially confirmed data provided by countries.
South and North America account for more than 50% of new COVID-19 cases submitted to the WHO in the past 24 hours (352,665). Europe goes second (265,890 cases) followed by South East Asia (35,166).
Most COVID-19 cases are recorded in the United States (16,912,564), followed by India (10,004,599), Brazil (7,110,434), Russia (2,819,429), France (2,401,113), the UK (1,977,171), Italy (1,921,778), Spain (1,797,236), Argentina (1,524,372), Germany (1,471,238), Colombia (1,468,795), and Mexico (1,289,298).


tass--2020-12-19--Over 42,000 refugees return to Nagorno-Karabakh - Russia’s Defense Ministry

MOSCOW , December 19 .
/TASS/ .
More than 42,000 refugees have returned to their homes in Nagorno-Karabakh since fighting stopped in the region , the Russian Defense Ministry told reporters on Saturday .
In the past 24 hours , 306 people came back from Yerevan to Stepanakert on buses escorted by Russian peacekeepers , the defense ministry added .
`` Buses have taken 306 people from Yerevan to Stepanakert today .
The buses were escorted on their route by patrols of the Russian peacekeeping contingent and military police , '' the Russian Defense Ministry said .
`` A total @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to their domiciles . ''
On November 9 , Russian President Vladimir Putin , Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed a joint statement on a complete ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh starting from November 10 .
Under the agreement , the Azerbaijani and Armenian sides maintained the positions that they had held and Russian peacekeepers were deployed to the region .
The Russian Defense Ministry said that the Russian peacekeeping contingent is based on the 15th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the Central Military District .
Russian observation posts are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Lachin corridor , which links Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia .
The headquarters of the peacekeeping operation is located in Stepanakert .
The situation is monitored round the clock .

MOSCOW, December 19. /TASS/. More than 42,000 refugees have returned to their homes in Nagorno-Karabakh since fighting stopped in the region, the Russian Defense Ministry told reporters on Saturday.
In the past 24 hours, 306 people came back from Yerevan to Stepanakert on buses escorted by Russian peacekeepers, the defense ministry added.
"Buses have taken 306 people from Yerevan to Stepanakert today. The buses were escorted on their route by patrols of the Russian peacekeeping contingent and military police," the Russian Defense Ministry said. "A total of over 42,000 refugees have already returned to their domiciles."
On November 9, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed a joint statement on a complete ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh starting from November 10. Under the agreement, the Azerbaijani and Armenian sides maintained the positions that they had held and Russian peacekeepers were deployed to the region.
The Russian Defense Ministry said that the Russian peacekeeping contingent is based on the 15th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the Central Military District. Russian observation posts are deployed along the contact line and to the Lachin corridor, which links Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia. The headquarters of the peacekeeping operation is located in Stepanakert. The situation is monitored round the clock.


tass--2020-12-19--Russian energy minister to meet with Iranian oil minister Monday

Coronavirus epidemic in Russia may end by spring or even earlier , top sanitary doctor says It depends on everyone @ @ @ @ @

Lukashenko says Putin promises he would regard attack on Belarus as attack on Russia
The Belarusian leader pointed out that NATO was quickly building up forces on the border with Belarus in Poland and in the Baltic countries
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tass--2020-12-19--Russia, Saudi Arabia confirm commitment to OPEC+ deal - Russia’s deputy PM

MOSCOW , December 19 .
/TASS/ .
Russia and Saudi Arabia are committed to the OPEC+ deal on oil output cuts and will be monitoring the situation , Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said at a briefing after the bilateral meeting in Riyadh on Saturday .
`` Today , my friend and colleague and I discussed cooperation in the OPEC+ multilateral format , and joint action and coordination in the international market .
We reaffirmed our commitment to the agreements , which are in effect to date , and to our cooperation , which is , first and foremost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the soonest possible time and at reaching a balance , '' he said .
The next OPEC and non-OPEC Ministerial Meeting is scheduled for January 4 , 2021 .
The OPEC and non-OPEC nations will determine oil production for February .
The meetings are to be held monthly .
OPEC and other oil-producing allies seek to increase oil production by two billion barrels per day within the winter and spring of 2021 .
`` The oil market is still volatile , so it must be regularly monitored , '' he said .
-0—mil/ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effect since May 2020 .
In April , OPEC and its oil-producing allies agreed on oil output cuts by 9.7 mln barrels per day , which is an unprecedented amount of all time .
Since August , the cuts were reduced to 7.7 mln barrels per day .
In January 2021 , the crude production will be increased , but gradually .
The alliance agreed to boost oil production by 0.5 mln barrels per day each month .
They all will increase crude production by 2 mln barrels per day .

MOSCOW, December 19. /TASS/. Russia and Saudi Arabia are committed to the OPEC+ deal on oil output cuts and will be monitoring the situation, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said at a briefing after the bilateral meeting in Riyadh on Saturday.
"Today, my friend and colleague and I discussed cooperation in the OPEC+ multilateral format, and joint action and coordination in the international market. We reaffirmed our commitment to the agreements, which are in effect to date, and to our cooperation, which is, first and foremost, aimed at the market recovery at the soonest possible time and at reaching a balance," he said.
The next OPEC and non-OPEC Ministerial Meeting is scheduled for January 4, 2021. The OPEC and non-OPEC nations will determine oil production for February. The meetings are to be held monthly. OPEC and other oil-producing allies seek to increase oil production by two billion barrels per day within the winter and spring of 2021.
"The oil market is still volatile, so it must be regularly monitored," he said. -0—mil/
The renewed OPEC+ deal has been in effect since May 2020. In April, OPEC and its oil-producing allies agreed on oil output cuts by 9.7 mln barrels per day, which is an unprecedented amount of all time. Since August, the cuts were reduced to 7.7 mln barrels per day. In January 2021, the crude production will be increased, but gradually. The alliance agreed to boost oil production by 0.5 mln barrels per day each month. They all will increase crude production by 2 mln barrels per day.


tass--2020-12-19--Passenger plane makes emergency landing in Siberian city

MOSCOW , December 19 .
/TASS/ .
A Boeing-737 passenger plane was forced to make an emergency landing at the @ @ @ @ @ city of Surgut on Saturday after a sensor malfunction , emergency services told TASS .
@ @ @ @ @ local time ( 18.04 Moscow time ) .
The landing went off as scheduled .
@ @ @ @ @ '' the spokesperson said .
There were 116 passengers and five crew aboard , who @ @ @ @ @ reserve plane to reach their destination , the city of Ufa .
The Ural transport @ @ @ @ @ inquiry was launched into flight safety violations after the emergency landing .
Russia ’ s @ @ @ @ @ the passengers and crew `` are alright . ''
One of the sensors malfunctioned on @ @ @ @ @ immediately after takeoff .

MOSCOW, December 19. /TASS/. A Boeing-737 passenger plane was forced to make an emergency landing at the airport of the Russian Siberian city of Surgut on Saturday after a sensor malfunction, emergency services told TASS.
"It landed at 20.04 local time (18.04 Moscow time). The landing went off as scheduled. No one was hurt," the spokesperson said.
There were 116 passengers and five crew aboard, who will be provided with a reserve plane to reach their destination, the city of Ufa. The Ural transport prosecution told TASS that an inquiry was launched into flight safety violations after the emergency landing.
Russia’s Utair carrier told TASS that the passengers and crew "are alright."
One of the sensors malfunctioned on Utair’s evening flight immediately after takeoff.


tass--2020-12-19--Russian-Saudi intergovernmental commission to hold next meeting in March

BEIRUT , December 19 .
/TASS/ .
The next meeting of the Russian-Saudi intergovernmental commission for commercial , economic , @ @ @ @ @ take place in March 2021 , Saudi Arabia ’ s Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz @ @ @ @ @ news conference with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak on Saturday .
`` We are @ @ @ @ @ talks within the intergovernmental commission in March , '' he said .
Earlier , the @ @ @ @ @ the interaction of Riyadh and Moscow `` is strategic and crucial for implementation of the @ @ @ @ @

BEIRUT, December 19. /TASS/. The next meeting of the Russian-Saudi intergovernmental commission for commercial, economic, scientific and technical cooperation will take place in March 2021, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz Bin Salman said at joint news conference with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak on Saturday.
"We are planning to hold similar bilateral talks within the intergovernmental commission in March," he said.
Earlier, the Saudi energy minister underscored that the interaction of Riyadh and Moscow "is strategic and crucial for implementation of the reached agreements.".


tass--2020-12-19--Russia, Saudi Arabia to ink cooperation roadmap in 2021

MOSCOW , December 19 .
/TASS/ .
Russia and Saudi Arabia plan to adopt a roadmap on trade and economic @ @ @ @ @ Minister Alexander Novak said at a briefing after holding talks with Saudi Arabia ’ s @ @ @ @ @ Bin Salman in Riyadh on Saturday .
`` Today we have also come to an @ @ @ @ @ enhancing our trade and economic cooperation has been drawn up .
We agreed to sign @ @ @ @ @ of next year , '' he said .
Novak pointed out that `` in 2020 @ @ @ @ @ by nearly 60 % compared to last year . ''
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander @ @ @ @ @ Saudi Arabia ’ s Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz Bin Salman on Saturday within the @ @ @ @ @ for trade , economic , scientific and technical cooperation .

MOSCOW, December 19. /TASS/. Russia and Saudi Arabia plan to adopt a roadmap on trade and economic cooperation, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said at a briefing after holding talks with Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz Bin Salman in Riyadh on Saturday.
"Today we have also come to an agreement, and the roadmap enhancing our trade and economic cooperation has been drawn up. We agreed to sign it within the first half of next year," he said.
Novak pointed out that "in 2020, our trade has grown by nearly 60% compared to last year."
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak held a meeting with Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz Bin Salman on Saturday within the framework of the Russian-Saudi committee for trade, economic, scientific and technical cooperation.


tass--2020-12-19--Trump claims again Biden lost presidential election

WASHINGTON , December 19 .
/TASS/ .
US Incumbent President Donald Trump has claimed once more that Democrat Joe Biden @ @ @ @ @ .
`` He didn ’ t win the Election .
He lost all 6 Swing @ @ @ @ @ .
They then dumped hundreds of thousands of votes in each one , and got @ @ @ @ @ have to fight so that their great victory is not stolen .
Don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ Trump wrote on his Twitter page on Saturday .
On December 14 , the US @ @ @ @ @ Biden ’ s election victory .
The Democrat received 306 votes , while incumbent President @ @ @ @ @ .
With 538 electors , a candidate needs to get 270 votes to be elected @ @ @ @ @ of the United States .
In late November , Trump , who has still not @ @ @ @ @ would leave the White House only if the Electoral College voted for Biden .
In @ @ @ @ @ the procedure which is normally considered a formality drew enormous media spotlight .

WASHINGTON, December 19. /TASS/. US Incumbent President Donald Trump has claimed once more that Democrat Joe Biden lost the US presidential election.
"He didn’t win the Election. He lost all 6 Swing States, by a lot. They then dumped hundreds of thousands of votes in each one, and got caught. Now Republican politicians have to fight so that their great victory is not stolen. Don’t be weak fools!" Trump wrote on his Twitter page on Saturday.
On December 14, the US Electoral College convened and confirmed Biden’s election victory. The Democrat received 306 votes, while incumbent President Donald Trump secured 232 votes. With 538 electors, a candidate needs to get 270 votes to be elected to the office of President of the United States.
In late November, Trump, who has still not conceded, said that he would leave the White House only if the Electoral College voted for Biden. In light of this remark, the procedure which is normally considered a formality drew enormous media spotlight.


tass--2020-12-19--Putin to rely on professionals’ opinion when deciding on his vaccination, spokesman says

TASS , December 19 .
Russian President Vladimir Putin will heed the professionals ’ opinion , when taking a decision on his vaccination , Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in a televised interview on Rossiya 1 channel on Saturday .
`` Generally speaking , Putin does go into details on all the problems , '' Peskov said when asked whose opinion the president would listen to when deciding on his vaccination .
The presidential press secretary said answering a follow-up question of whose name matters more for Putin , `` There are not so many real specialists . ''
Peskov @ @ @ @ @ @ @ everyone ’ s lips and they all take part in the meetings . ''
On Thursday , Putin said at his annual news conference that he had not been vaccinated against coronavirus yet .
He explained that `` the vaccines that now enter public consumption are provided for citizens of a certain age group . ''
He added , `` I am a law-abiding person in this sense , so I have not taken this vaccine yet .
But I will definitely do it , as soon as it becomes possible . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russian president did not have any exclusive vaccines and he took the medicines available for all members of the public .
Russia has registered two national coronavirus vaccines so far .
One of them was developed by the Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology at the Russian Health Ministry and the other by Vector State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology at the Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing .
A third candidate vaccine is expected to be licensed in the near future .
It was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Research and Development of Immune and Biological Products at the Russian Academy of Sciences .

TASS, December 19. Russian President Vladimir Putin will heed the professionals’ opinion, when taking a decision on his vaccination, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in a televised interview on Rossiya 1 channel on Saturday.
"Generally speaking, Putin does go into details on all the problems," Peskov said when asked whose opinion the president would listen to when deciding on his vaccination.
The presidential press secretary said answering a follow-up question of whose name matters more for Putin, "There are not so many real specialists."
Peskov added that such specialists "are on everyone’s lips and they all take part in the meetings."
On Thursday, Putin said at his annual news conference that he had not been vaccinated against coronavirus yet. He explained that "the vaccines that now enter public consumption are provided for citizens of a certain age group."
He added, "I am a law-abiding person in this sense, so I have not taken this vaccine yet. But I will definitely do it, as soon as it becomes possible."
Earlier, Peskov pointed out that the Russian president did not have any exclusive vaccines and he took the medicines available for all members of the public.
Russia has registered two national coronavirus vaccines so far. One of them was developed by the Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology at the Russian Health Ministry and the other by Vector State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology at the Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing. A third candidate vaccine is expected to be licensed in the near future. It was developed by the Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immune and Biological Products at the Russian Academy of Sciences.


tass--2020-12-19--Launch of the Angara-A5 rocket went perfectly, Roscosmos Chief says

OMSK , December 19 .
/TASS/ .
Head of Russia ’ s space agency Roscosmos Dmitry Rogozin praised the results of the Angara-A5 rocket launch and noted that this type of missile has great prospects , he told reporters on Saturday .
`` The rocket ’ s launch went perfectly .
Everyone is happy , so everyone immediately sees the great prospects of the Angara and also of the Omsk Polet , '' Rogozin said .
He noted that this launch was very important .
`` Six years after the first test launches , we can say that the team @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Polet have done a great job in order to make a new rocket , updated , which fully confirmed the customer 's requirements for carrying capacity and launch accuracy , '' Rogozin added .
Rogozin said that the plans of the state corporation for the next year include creating one light and one heavy versions of Angara .
`` Perhaps something else .
But for now , at least two missiles for sure , '' Rogozin said .
Angara-A5 heavy carrier rocket blasted off at 08:50 Moscow time on December 14 from site @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ministry ’ s Plesetsk state testing spaceport in the northern Arkhangelsk Region .
This was the second test-launch of the new Angara rocket .
Twelve minutes after the blast-off , the rocket ’ s space head comprising a booster and an integral payload mockup separated from the third stage in the normal mode .
As Russia ’ s Defense Ministry specified , all the pre-launch operations and the rocket ’ s launch proceeded normally .
The launch was carried out by a combat team of Russia ’ s Aerospace Force .
The Angara @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rockets .
It consists of light , medium and heavy carrier rockets with a lifting capacity of up to 37.5 tonnes .
The new family of rockets uses environmentally-friendly propellant components .
Until now , Russia carried out two Angara launches , both of them from the Plesetsk spaceport : a light Angara-1.2PP blasted off in July 2014 and its heavy version lifted off on December 23 , 2014 , orbiting a payload mock-up of 2 tonnes .

OMSK, December 19. /TASS/. Head of Russia’s space agency Roscosmos Dmitry Rogozin praised the results of the Angara-A5 rocket launch and noted that this type of missile has great prospects, he told reporters on Saturday.
"The rocket’s launch went perfectly. Everyone is happy, so everyone immediately sees the great prospects of the Angara and also of the Omsk Polet," Rogozin said.
He noted that this launch was very important. "Six years after the first test launches, we can say that the team of the Khrunichev Center and the Omsk Polet have done a great job in order to make a new rocket, updated, which fully confirmed the customer's requirements for carrying capacity and launch accuracy," Rogozin added.
Rogozin said that the plans of the state corporation for the next year include creating one light and one heavy versions of Angara. "Perhaps something else. But for now, at least two missiles for sure," Rogozin said.
Angara-A5 heavy carrier rocket blasted off at 08:50 Moscow time on December 14 from site No. 35 of the Russian Defense Ministry’s Plesetsk state testing spaceport in the northern Arkhangelsk Region. This was the second test-launch of the new Angara rocket. Twelve minutes after the blast-off, the rocket’s space head comprising a booster and an integral payload mockup separated from the third stage in the normal mode.
As Russia’s Defense Ministry specified, all the pre-launch operations and the rocket’s launch proceeded normally. The launch was carried out by a combat team of Russia’s Aerospace Force.
The Angara is a family of next-generation Russian space rockets. It consists of light, medium and heavy carrier rockets with a lifting capacity of up to 37.5 tonnes. The new family of rockets uses environmentally-friendly propellant components.
Until now, Russia carried out two Angara launches, both of them from the Plesetsk spaceport: a light Angara-1.2PP blasted off in July 2014 and its heavy version lifted off on December 23, 2014, orbiting a payload mock-up of 2 tonnes.


tass--2020-12-20--Russia, Saudi Arabia reiterate commitment to current OPEC+ agreements

MOSCOW , December 20 .
/TASS/ .
Saudi Aramco , the world ’ s biggest oil company in terms of reserves and production , is looking at expanding cooperation with Russian energy companies , a spokesman for Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said on Sunday , commenting on the results if his visit to Saudi Arabia .
`` The energy sector is still playing a key role in cooperation between our countries and has a considerable potential in the area of developing new oil production technologies , the use of artificial intelligence and research cooperation , '' Novak was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Saudi Aramco and its sectoral companies are looking at expanding their participation in energy projects in Russia .
Apart from that , cooperation in the nuclear sector is also promising . ''
Saudi Aramco earlier negotiated possible cooperation options with Russia ’ s oil majors Rosneft and Lukoil , and with other companies specializing in oil trading and processing across the globe .
Apart from that , Aramco planned to join the Arctic LNG-2 project of Russia ’ s Novatek .
The sides however failed to reach an agreement .
Russia and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s biggest oil producers , maintain cooperation within the OPEC+ , Novak recalled .
`` We reiterated our commitment to the current agreements reached during the 12th OPEC and non-OPEC ministerial meeting and to our cooperation geared to ensure the swiftest market stabilization and to reach a balance while the demand is still very volatile , '' Novak was quoted as saying .
The deputy prime minister stressed he was convinced that this format of cooperation would be further developed .
`` We will continue to work together to reach a balance , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , if need be , solutions for its stabilization , '' he added .
Russia and Saudi Arabia also plan to increase trade to five billion US dollars by 2024 .
`` Saudi Arabia is Russia ’ s strategic partner in the Middle East , Novak stressed .
According to the deputy prime minister , the key joint target is to increase trade to five billion US dollars by 2024 , '' the spokesman said .
`` It is quite achievable and the positive dynamics of bilateral trade proves that .
I would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by 58 % in 2019 , to 1.7 billion US dollars .
In January-October 2020 , despite the unfavorable foreign market situation , trade demonstrated positive dynamics , going up by another six percent , to 1.4 billion US dollars , on the same period last year , '' he quoted Novak as saying .
A program of high-level Russian-Saudi strategic cooperation was signed in October 2019 .
The sides are currently working on a draft roadmap that is planned to be signed in the first six months of 2021 .
`` The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ role in cooperation between our countries and has a considerable potential in the area of developing new oil production technologies , the use of artificial intelligence and research cooperation , '' Novak was quoted as saying .
`` For instance , Saudi Aramco and its sectoral companies are looking at expanding their participation in energy projects in Russia .
Apart from that , cooperation in the nuclear sector is also promising .
`` .

MOSCOW, December 20. /TASS/. Saudi Aramco, the world’s biggest oil company in terms of reserves and production, is looking at expanding cooperation with Russian energy companies, a spokesman for Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said on Sunday, commenting on the results if his visit to Saudi Arabia.
"The energy sector is still playing a key role in cooperation between our countries and has a considerable potential in the area of developing new oil production technologies, the use of artificial intelligence and research cooperation," Novak was quoted as saying. "For instance, Saudi Aramco and its sectoral companies are looking at expanding their participation in energy projects in Russia. Apart from that, cooperation in the nuclear sector is also promising."
Saudi Aramco earlier negotiated possible cooperation options with Russia’s oil majors Rosneft and Lukoil, and with other companies specializing in oil trading and processing across the globe. Apart from that, Aramco planned to join the Arctic LNG-2 project of Russia’s Novatek. The sides however failed to reach an agreement.
Russia and Saudi Arabia, the two world’s biggest oil producers, maintain cooperation within the OPEC+, Novak recalled.
"We reiterated our commitment to the current agreements reached during the 12th OPEC and non-OPEC ministerial meeting and to our cooperation geared to ensure the swiftest market stabilization and to reach a balance while the demand is still very volatile," Novak was quoted as saying.
The deputy prime minister stressed he was convinced that this format of cooperation would be further developed. "We will continue to work together to reach a balance, to regularly monitor the market and offer, if need be, solutions for its stabilization," he added.
Plans to increase trade
Russia and Saudi Arabia also plan to increase trade to five billion US dollars by 2024.
"Saudi Arabia is Russia’s strategic partner in the Middle East, Novak stressed. According to the deputy prime minister, the key joint target is to increase trade to five billion US dollars by 2024," the spokesman said.
"It is quite achievable and the positive dynamics of bilateral trade proves that. I would note with satisfaction that trade was up by 58% in 2019, to 1.7 billion US dollars. In January-October 2020, despite the unfavorable foreign market situation, trade demonstrated positive dynamics, going up by another six percent, to 1.4 billion US dollars, on the same period last year," he quoted Novak as saying.
A program of high-level Russian-Saudi strategic cooperation was signed in October 2019. The sides are currently working on a draft roadmap that is planned to be signed in the first six months of 2021.
"The energy sector is still playing a key role in cooperation between our countries and has a considerable potential in the area of developing new oil production technologies, the use of artificial intelligence and research cooperation," Novak was quoted as saying. "For instance, Saudi Aramco and its sectoral companies are looking at expanding their participation in energy projects in Russia. Apart from that, cooperation in the nuclear sector is also promising.".