tass--2020-11-11--US displays double standards refusing to participate in Damascus conference — top diplomat

DAMASCUS , November 11 .
/TASS/ .
The US refusal to participate in an international conference on assistance in the return of Syrian refugees and internally displaced persons demonstrates double standards regarding Syria , Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in his greetings to the conference participants read out on Wednesday by Russian Special Presidential Envoy for Syria Alexander Lavrentyev .
Russia ’ s top diplomat noted that the refusal of `` a known circle of countries led by the US '' to participate in the humanitarian forum is inexplicable and pointed out their attempts to prevent the conference from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the conference is conducted in line with the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2254 .
`` We consider this approach of our opponents yet another evidence of double standards concerning Syria which they attempt to make a hostage to mercenary geopolitical interests , '' he noted .
`` At the same time , it is not surprising that this stance is taken precisely by those states that directly fanned the flames of the ‘ Syrian fire , ’ and supported and continue to support anti-governmental forces , including terrorists .
It is precisely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the tragedy of millions of Syrian citizens who were forced to abandon their native land , '' the top diplomat stressed .
The international conference on refugees and internally displaced persons opened in Damascus on Wednesday with the participation of delegations from 27 countries , including Russia , China , Iran , Lebanon , the United Arab Emirates , the Sultanate of Oman and Pakistan , as well as representatives of the UN and 12 non-profit organizations .
The forum intends to work out a program of practical steps on the return of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russian delegation which includes specialists of over 30 ministries and agencies is headed by Lavrentyev .

DAMASCUS, November 11. /TASS/. The US refusal to participate in an international conference on assistance in the return of Syrian refugees and internally displaced persons demonstrates double standards regarding Syria, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in his greetings to the conference participants read out on Wednesday by Russian Special Presidential Envoy for Syria Alexander Lavrentyev.
Russia’s top diplomat noted that the refusal of "a known circle of countries led by the US" to participate in the humanitarian forum is inexplicable and pointed out their attempts to prevent the conference from taking place. The minister reiterated that the conference is conducted in line with the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2254. "We consider this approach of our opponents yet another evidence of double standards concerning Syria which they attempt to make a hostage to mercenary geopolitical interests," he noted.
"At the same time, it is not surprising that this stance is taken precisely by those states that directly fanned the flames of the ‘Syrian fire,’ and supported and continue to support anti-governmental forces, including terrorists. It is precisely them who carry the main responsibility for the tragedy of millions of Syrian citizens who were forced to abandon their native land," the top diplomat stressed.
The international conference on refugees and internally displaced persons opened in Damascus on Wednesday with the participation of delegations from 27 countries, including Russia, China, Iran, Lebanon, the United Arab Emirates, the Sultanate of Oman and Pakistan, as well as representatives of the UN and 12 non-profit organizations. The forum intends to work out a program of practical steps on the return of over 6.5 mln Syrian refugees. The Russian delegation which includes specialists of over 30 ministries and agencies is headed by Lavrentyev.


tass--2020-11-11--Russian defense firm fulfils annual plan of S-400 delivery to troops ahead of schedule

`` Almaz-Antey Group delivered the next and final regiment set of S-400 ‘ Triumf ’ surface-to-air missile systems to the Defense Ministry this year ahead of schedule as part of its commitments under the defense procurement plan , '' the statement says .
MOSCOW , November 11 .
/TASS/ .
Russia ’ s Almaz-Antey defense manufacturer delivered the final regiment set of S-400 ‘ Triumf ’ medium-to long-range anti-aircraft missile systems this year , fulfilling its annual delivery plan ahead of schedule , the company said in a statement on Wednesday .
The company ’ s commitments to the Defense @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Triumf ’ air defense systems have been discharged `` in full and ahead of schedule , '' Almaz-Antey CEO Yan Novikov was quoted as saying in the statement .
Upon their delivery to the Defense Ministry , the S-400 systems held a test-fire exercise at a proving ground , the statement says .
`` Following the results of the firings , the military hardware operated without a hitch and the acceptance/delivery trials passed successfully , '' the company stressed .
The press office of Russia ’ s Central Military District earlier reported that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Samara Region in the Volga area had moved to the southern Astrakhan Region to receive the latest S-400 ‘ Triumf '' systems that would replace their S-300 predecessors .
Russia ’ s S-400 ‘ Triumf ’ ( NATO reporting name : SA-21 Growler ) is the latest long-and medium-range surface-to-air missile system that went into service in 2007 .
It is designed to destroy aircraft , cruise and ballistic missiles , and can also be used against ground installations .
The S-400 can engage targets at a distance of up to 400 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 30 km under intensive enemy fire and jamming .

"Almaz-Antey Group delivered the next and final regiment set of S-400 ‘Triumf’ surface-to-air missile systems to the Defense Ministry this year ahead of schedule as part of its commitments under the defense procurement plan," the statement says.
MOSCOW, November 11. /TASS/. Russia’s Almaz-Antey defense manufacturer delivered the final regiment set of S-400 ‘Triumf’ medium-to long-range anti-aircraft missile systems this year, fulfilling its annual delivery plan ahead of schedule, the company said in a statement on Wednesday.
The company’s commitments to the Defense Ministry of Russia for delivering S-400 ‘Triumf’ air defense systems have been discharged "in full and ahead of schedule," Almaz-Antey CEO Yan Novikov was quoted as saying in the statement.
Upon their delivery to the Defense Ministry, the S-400 systems held a test-fire exercise at a proving ground, the statement says.
"Following the results of the firings, the military hardware operated without a hitch and the acceptance/delivery trials passed successfully," the company stressed.
The press office of Russia’s Central Military District earlier reported that teams of the anti-aircraft missile regiment from the Samara Region in the Volga area had moved to the southern Astrakhan Region to receive the latest S-400 ‘Triumf" systems that would replace their S-300 predecessors.
Russia’s S-400 ‘Triumf’ (NATO reporting name: SA-21 Growler) is the latest long-and medium-range surface-to-air missile system that went into service in 2007. It is designed to destroy aircraft, cruise and ballistic missiles, and can also be used against ground installations. The S-400 can engage targets at a distance of up to 400 km and at an altitude of up to 30 km under intensive enemy fire and jamming.


tass--2020-11-11--Functions of Russian peacekeepers in Karabakh to be specified, Kremlin says

MOSCOW , November 11 .
/TASS/ .
The functions of Russian peacekeepers in Nagorno-Karabakh , including the question whether they will be responsible for guarding cultural and religious sites , are yet to be specified , Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the media on Wednesday .
`` We are talking about peacekeeping contingent .
Naturally , its functions are yet to be specified , because they were not described in the joint statement made by the two presidents and Armenia ’ s prime minister , '' Peskov said .
He added that there had been no discussions about Russian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the region .
`` I can not say anything on this score , whether this function will be on the list of their duties or not , '' he said .
The Kremlin spokesman said that according to the main functions of any peacekeeping contingent Russian military personnel will `` ensure the observance of ceasefire and the cessation of all hostilities . ''
The Russian peacekeepers will be deployed to the Lachin corridor .
`` Accordingly , the operation of this traffic artery will be maintained .
Other nuances are yet to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stated once again that the possibility of deploying a joint Russian-Turkish peacekeeping contingent to Karabakh was not on the agenda .
`` The platform for joint interaction will be in the territory of Azerbaijan .
It will be not in Karabakh .
A monitoring center is to be created , '' he added .
Russia would rather not resort to sending its peacekeeping missions to other regions where hostilities are underway , Peskov said .
The spokesman was asked whether Moscow wishes to send a peacekeeping mission to Donbass like it did to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there to be hostilities anywhere that might force it to resort to such means , '' he said .

MOSCOW, November 11. /TASS/. The functions of Russian peacekeepers in Nagorno-Karabakh, including the question whether they will be responsible for guarding cultural and religious sites, are yet to be specified, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the media on Wednesday.
"We are talking about peacekeeping contingent. Naturally, its functions are yet to be specified, because they were not described in the joint statement made by the two presidents and Armenia’s prime minister," Peskov said.
He added that there had been no discussions about Russian peacekeepers guarding cultural or religious sites in the region.
"I cannot say anything on this score, whether this function will be on the list of their duties or not," he said.
The Kremlin spokesman said that according to the main functions of any peacekeeping contingent Russian military personnel will "ensure the observance of ceasefire and the cessation of all hostilities." The Russian peacekeepers will be deployed to the Lachin corridor. "Accordingly, the operation of this traffic artery will be maintained. Other nuances are yet to be specified," he said.
Peskov stated once again that the possibility of deploying a joint Russian-Turkish peacekeeping contingent to Karabakh was not on the agenda.
"The platform for joint interaction will be in the territory of Azerbaijan. It will be not in Karabakh. A monitoring center is to be created," he added.
Missions to other regions
Russia would rather not resort to sending its peacekeeping missions to other regions where hostilities are underway, Peskov said.
The spokesman was asked whether Moscow wishes to send a peacekeeping mission to Donbass like it did to Nagorno-Karabakh.
"Moscow does not want there to be hostilities anywhere that might force it to resort to such means," he said.


tass--2020-11-11--Huion Kamvas Series Introduces 11.6- and 15.6-Inch Displays

SHENZHEN , China , November 11 .
/PRNewswire/ .
Huion released another two pen displays of its Kamvas series for more digital drawing hobbyists to express and share their creative ideas .
The recently released Kamvas 12 and Kamvas 16 ( 2021 ) are counterparts of Kamvas Pro 12 and Kamvas Pro 16 respectively , for beginners and students of digital drawing .
While Kamvas series pen displays developed by Huion come with a wider range of color options and a more user-friendly product design , the biggest reason that they have garnered such great attention is their performance at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new Kamvas 12 and Kamvas 16 ( 2021 ) , Kamvas 13 , Kamvas 22 and Kamvas 22 Plus are all products of the Kamvas series that have been released and won the praise of digital artists around the world .
Both Kamvas 12 and Kamvas 16 ( 2021 ) come in more than one color .
Besides cosmo black , Kamvas 12 is also available in starfish orange , while Kamvas 16 ( 2021 ) comes in twilight blue , which is enabled by the ABS plastic applied to the back shell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ widely known as environmentally friendly and scratch resistant .
Since the screen is fully laminated and anti-glare thanks to a matte film attached to the surface , reflection and parallax on the screen are minimized , while the drawing experience is improved in a more pen-on-paper way .
The PW517 , the digital pen that comes with the Kamvas series , enables 8,192 pen pressure levels , a favorable report rate , as well as tilt recognition of ±60 degrees .
With Kamvas 12 and Kamvas 16 ( 2021 ) , Huion Kamvas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and 15.6 inch pen displays along with the 13.3 inch and 21.5 inch displays released earlier .
More sizes and models will be announced as Huion is determined to power the dreams of digital artists across the globe .
For further details and questions of Huion Kamvas series products , please visit www.huion.com or send an email to marketing @ huiontablet.com .

SHENZHEN, China, November 11. /PRNewswire/. Huion released another two pen displays of its Kamvas series for more digital drawing hobbyists to express and share their creative ideas. The recently released Kamvas 12 and Kamvas 16(2021) are counterparts of Kamvas Pro 12 and Kamvas Pro 16 respectively, for beginners and students of digital drawing.
While Kamvas series pen displays developed by Huion come with a wider range of color options and a more user-friendly product design, the biggest reason that they have garnered such great attention is their performance at an affordable price. Along with the new Kamvas 12 and Kamvas 16(2021), Kamvas 13, Kamvas 22 and Kamvas 22 Plus are all products of the Kamvas series that have been released and won the praise of digital artists around the world.
Both Kamvas 12 and Kamvas 16(2021) come in more than one color. Besides cosmo black, Kamvas 12 is also available in starfish orange, while Kamvas 16(2021) comes in twilight blue, which is enabled by the ABS plastic applied to the back shell of the product, and ABS is widely known as environmentally friendly and scratch resistant. Since the screen is fully laminated and anti-glare thanks to a matte film attached to the surface, reflection and parallax on the screen are minimized, while the drawing experience is improved in a more pen-on-paper way. The PW517, the digital pen that comes with the Kamvas series, enables 8,192 pen pressure levels, a favorable report rate, as well as tilt recognition of ±60 degrees.
With Kamvas 12 and Kamvas 16(2021), Huion Kamvas series is now available with 11.6 inch and 15.6 inch pen displays along with the 13.3 inch and 21.5 inch displays released earlier. More sizes and models will be announced as Huion is determined to power the dreams of digital artists across the globe. For further details and questions of Huion Kamvas series products, please visit www.huion.com or send an email to marketing@huiontablet.com.
For media enquiries: Carlos Lin, +86 18820178551
Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1325020/Kamvas_____1.jpg
Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1325021/K12_16_1.jpg


tass--2020-11-11--Turkey’s wish to set up Karabakh monitoring center contrasts with Russian stance — Kremlin

MOSCOW , November 11 .
/TASS/ .
Turkey ’ s statement on creating a monitoring center in Karabakh runs counter to Kremlin ’ s stance , Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday .
`` This is not how we understand it , '' Peskov said , commenting on a statement of the Turkish president ’ s office on plans to set up the Karabakh ceasefire monitoring center on the territory held by Azerbaijan .
The Kremlin spokesman noted that the center should be located on Azerbaijan ’ s indigenous land .
The Azerbaijani president ’ s press service @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Azerbaijan and Turkey , Ilham Aliyev and Recep Tayyip Erdogan , had discussed the situation over the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the creation of `` the Turkish-Russian peacekeeping center '' in the region .
On the same day , Peskov told reporters that the creation of a center to monitor the Nagorno-Karabakh ceasefire in Azerbaijan was not mentioned in the joint statement by the leaders of Azerbaijan , Armenia and Russia and was `` subject to a separate agreement . ''
In response to a question which territory was mentioned in relation to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he emphasized that `` it ’ s not Karabakh . ''
According to him , the presence of Turkish peacekeepers in Nagorno-Karabakh was not agreed on .

MOSCOW, November 11. /TASS/. Turkey’s statement on creating a monitoring center in Karabakh runs counter to Kremlin’s stance, Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday.
"This is not how we understand it," Peskov said, commenting on a statement of the Turkish president’s office on plans to set up the Karabakh ceasefire monitoring center on the territory held by Azerbaijan.
The Kremlin spokesman noted that the center should be located on Azerbaijan’s indigenous land.
The Azerbaijani president’s press service said on Tuesday that the leaders of Azerbaijan and Turkey, Ilham Aliyev and Recep Tayyip Erdogan, had discussed the situation over the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the creation of "the Turkish-Russian peacekeeping center" in the region.
On the same day, Peskov told reporters that the creation of a center to monitor the Nagorno-Karabakh ceasefire in Azerbaijan was not mentioned in the joint statement by the leaders of Azerbaijan, Armenia and Russia and was "subject to a separate agreement."
In response to a question which territory was mentioned in relation to the possible creation of a monitoring center, he emphasized that "it’s not Karabakh." According to him, the presence of Turkish peacekeepers in Nagorno-Karabakh was not agreed on.


tass--2020-11-11--Press review: Moscow gains from brokered peace deal and Trump to unleash Iran sanctions

The second war in post-Soviet history between Azerbaijan and Armenia ended as quickly as it started , Kommersant notes .
After six weeks of intense hostilities , 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 .
In accordance with the agreement , Armenian troops must leave three occupied districts of Azerbaijan .
The key provision of the agreement is the deployment of Russian peacekeepers to the region .
Acting as the guarantor of the peace deal , Moscow has reaffirmed its role as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , creating the conditions for the relaunch of the diplomatic process that has stalled for a quarter of a century , the newspaper points out .
Moscow has gotten back its leading role in the South Caucasus with this agreement , and this outcome is quite a triumph for Russia , Editor-in-Chief of the Russia in Global Affairs magazine Fyodor Lukyanov told RBC .
`` It was impossible to maintain the status-quo when it became apparent that Armenia could no longer win the armed conflict .
Before that , Armenia ’ s victory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Azerbaijanis were better prepared , and when you don ’ t have enough military power , the whole structure built over the past few years falls apart , '' the expert explained .
While the new model benefits Moscow , Armenia becomes even more dependent on Russia ’ s presence , Lukyanov stated .
The OSCE Minsk Group has basically ceased to exist after this agreement , the experts claimed .
The OSCE has not been mentioned in the armistice , and the group ’ s co-chairs France and the US @ @ @ @ @ @ @ involved in the preparations for the deal .
The return of a significant chunk of districts bordering Nagorno-Karabakh and a part of the unrecognized republic itself to Azerbaijan has been met with jubilation in Baku .
The Armenian public had the opposite reaction : the agreement was seen as a capitulation and a national embarrassment , with PM Pashinyan painted as the one responsible for what happened by the radical opposition , Kommersant notes .
Meanwhile , support for Pashinyan , who was once popular in Armenia , has plummeted .
Armenian political @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the disadvantageous agreement is not the only mishap of the Pashinyan government .
`` During Pashinyan ’ s rule , society has been divided .
And it is harder for a divided society to defend itself .
Government bodies have been weakened , especially the legal system .
There have been no preparations for a war for the past two and a half years , and there has been no development in the relations with its allies : Russia and Iran , '' the expert told Kommersant .
Izvestia : Trump plans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his term ends Washington is gearing up to impose a flood of new sanctions against Tehran with the support of Israel and some Gulf nations , Izvestia writes .
Namely , the sanctions may cover Iran ’ s missile program , linked to alleged human rights violations or Tehran ’ s possible support of terrorist organizations .
Meanwhile , Joe Biden , who declared his victory in the US presidential election , does not rule out Washington 's return to the Iranian nuclear deal .
Izvestia takes a look at what Iran can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` The Trump administration , in coordination with Israel and several Gulf states , is pushing a plan to slap a long string of new sanctions on Iran in the 10 weeks left until Joe Biden ’ s inauguration on January 20 , '' the Axios news portal reported earlier .
The US plans to introduce new sanctions every week until Biden ’ s inauguration .
Trump understands that his strategy has failed and that he lost , Adlan Margoev , an analyst at the Institute of International Studies at the Moscow State @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) , told Izvestia .
`` However , giving up is not his style , so in the remaining weeks , he plans to make the most of his mandate and make the first few months of the new administration harder .
The US sanctions machine is a state within a state , and taking into account the fact that [ Iranian ] President [ Hassan ] Rouhani plans to resign in the summer of 2021 , the Biden administration will not have time for a quick return to the JCPOA , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may go back to diplomatic bargaining between Tehran and Washington , Head of the Center for North American Studies at the Primakov Institute of World Economy and International Relations ( IMEMO ) Viktoria Zhuravleva told the paper .
`` The position of the Democratic Party fundamentally differs from the position of the Trump administration and the Republican Party on the whole .
Obama didn ’ t promote this Iranian deal for nothing .
The Democratic Party thinks that this deal was of fundamental importance , that it was the basis for building relations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ understands that the Democrats will try to get the deal back , and right now , he is trying to complicate this process as much as he can , '' she explained .
She added that so far , it is hard to say whether Trump will have time to damage the difficult relations between Washington and Tehran even further .
`` The pressure from his administration will be pushed to the maximum .
Will Biden be able to fix it ?
Definitely not immediately and definitely not quickly : but if Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , they will understand that what is happening is temporary , and they will have a different reaction to the new sanctions , '' the analyst concluded .
Izvestia : EU looks to change its immigration policy after spate of terror attacks After a string of terrorist attacks in Europe , the EU has decided to once again revise its approach to immigration and security .
French President Emmanuel Macron stated that EU members must radically change the Schengen system , beefing up control of its external borders .
The European Commission told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In this regard , the EU is working on a new strategy that will determine how the system will work in the future , with its outline set to be announced in December .
Sources in the European commission told Izvestia that the Schengen zone is one of the greatest achievements of the EU , and it is in the EU ’ s shared interest to maintain its integrity and the functionality without introducing control over its internal borders .
However , the Schengen zone has been under growing pressure in recent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and it needs to be reformed , the source added .
The source noted that by early December , the European Commission will hold its first forum on the Schengen zone , which will involve members of the European Parliament , interior ministers and other representatives of national governments .
The new strategy will include the following elements : increased control and management of external borders ; more active cooperation and information exchange between national government bodies , especially the police ; mutually linked security systems on the borders ; and increased @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immigration reform , Nicolas Bay , a member of the European Parliament , told Izvestia that Brussels had tried to introduce quotas for migrants , with each country having its share , however , some countries , like Hungary and Poland , are strongly against this policy .
Some countries want to admit as few migrants as possible , but they don ’ t say so openly , he told the paper .
Besides , the low level of cooperation between the origin countries complicates the process of repatriating those who have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of steam , and the EU is looking for a solution in a new pact , the French politician concluded .
Nezavisimaya Gazeta : Top Erdogan official steps down following US election The resignation of Turkey 's Minister of Treasury and Finance Berat Albayrak has been met with widespread speculation over the atmosphere in President Erdogan ’ s government following the outcome of the US election , Nezavisimaya Gazeta writes .
Albayrak is Erdogan ’ s son-in-law , so he held a key position within the government .
The Turkish media predicted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other big shake-ups in the future .
Albayrak ’ s resignation came after Erdogan ’ s decision to dismiss Murat Uysal from the position of Turkey ’ s Central Bank governor .
There are several versions regarding the Turkish economy czar ’ s resignation .
One of them is tied to the Turkey ’ s state bank - Halkbank - which has been accused by the US of violating American sanctions against Iran , fraud and money laundering .
`` The resignation of the Central Bank chief and the treasury minister may be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election , '' Timur Akhmetov , an Ankara-based expert from the Russian International Affairs Council , told Nezavisimaya Gazeta .
`` The previous head of the Central Bank worked at Halkbank , and the investigation into it may reach an active phase under a new administration .
The expert does not rule out that Albayrak may be tied to `` the Halkbank case '' as well .
The Trump administration ’ s position on Halkbank has been rather sympathetic , the paper notes .
During a briefing a couple of years ago , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ promised to influence his subordinates to end the criminal proceedings against the bank .
Nevertheless , in December 2019 , a New York court dismissed Halkbank ’ s motion to suspend the court proceedings .
`` There was noticeable discontent in the US over the fact that Ankara was allegedly trying to extend its own political game rules to America ’ s system , and that there was alleged pressure on the court from Trump , '' Akhmetov pointed out .
`` Halkbank may become a means for the Democrats to stage a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ least to put pressure on him , '' he concluded .
Russian researchers with the National Research Nuclear University MEPhI ( Moscow Engineering Physics Institute ) have developed a device with the ability to track and detect specific virus particles , Rossiyskaya Gazeta reports .
The `` Trigger-BIO '' detector has shown record sensitivity : in 1-2 seconds , the device is able to detect a virus in the air with the concentration of 10-20 particles per liter .
This is about ten times more than the existing devices .
Besides , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , bacteria and so on , the paper notes .
With its high sensitivity , the machine can send out a signal that can allow people to take swift measures to eliminate the threat .
`` The device is based on the phenomenon of luminescence , '' one of its developers , candidate of physical and mathematical sciences Gennady Kotkovsky told Rossiyskaya Gazeta .
`` In this case , viruses and bacteria begin to glow under the rays of light-emitting diodes .
As a result , we receive emission spectrums of these particles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ print , so technically , we can say what type of virus or bacteria it belongs to , identifying the dangerous microorganism , '' he explained .
Additional research should be carried out to avoid mistakes during the functioning of the device , with tests held at the Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology , known for developing the first Russian COVID-19 vaccine .
If successful , the device can help organize screening at public places , thereby ensuring safety at civilian and military facilities .
TASS is not responsible for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Media: Karabakh hostilities end with Russia’s mediation
The second war in post-Soviet history between Azerbaijan and Armenia ended as quickly as it started, Kommersant notes. After six weeks of intense hostilities, 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. In accordance with the agreement, Armenian troops must leave three occupied districts of Azerbaijan. The key provision of the agreement is the deployment of Russian peacekeepers to the region. Acting as the guarantor of the peace deal, Moscow has reaffirmed its role as the key mediator of the Karabakh conflict, creating the conditions for the relaunch of the diplomatic process that has stalled for a quarter of a century, the newspaper points out. Moscow has gotten back its leading role in the South Caucasus with this agreement, and this outcome is quite a triumph for Russia, Editor-in-Chief of the Russia in Global Affairs magazine Fyodor Lukyanov told RBC. "It was impossible to maintain the status-quo when it became apparent that Armenia could no longer win the armed conflict. Before that, Armenia’s victory had been presumed, but this time, the Azerbaijanis were better prepared, and when you don’t have enough military power, the whole structure built over the past few years falls apart," the expert explained. While the new model benefits Moscow, Armenia becomes even more dependent on Russia’s presence, Lukyanov stated. The OSCE Minsk Group has basically ceased to exist after this agreement, the experts claimed. The OSCE has not been mentioned in the armistice, and the group’s co-chairs France and the US have not been listed as active participants involved in the preparations for the deal. The return of a significant chunk of districts bordering Nagorno-Karabakh and a part of the unrecognized republic itself to Azerbaijan has been met with jubilation in Baku. The Armenian public had the opposite reaction: the agreement was seen as a capitulation and a national embarrassment, with PM Pashinyan painted as the one responsible for what happened by the radical opposition, Kommersant notes. Meanwhile, support for Pashinyan, who was once popular in Armenia, has plummeted. Armenian political analyst Grant Mikaelian noted that the signing of the disadvantageous agreement is not the only mishap of the Pashinyan government. "During Pashinyan’s rule, society has been divided. And it is harder for a divided society to defend itself. Government bodies have been weakened, especially the legal system. There have been no preparations for a war for the past two and a half years, and there has been no development in the relations with its allies: Russia and Iran," the expert told Kommersant. Izvestia: Trump plans to slap new sanctions on Iran before his term ends
Read also Russia has no fear of potential US sanctions over arms deals with Iran — senior diplomat
Washington is gearing up to impose a flood of new sanctions against Tehran with the support of Israel and some Gulf nations, Izvestia writes. Namely, the sanctions may cover Iran’s missile program, linked to alleged human rights violations or Tehran’s possible support of terrorist organizations. Meanwhile, Joe Biden, who declared his victory in the US presidential election, does not rule out Washington's return to the Iranian nuclear deal. Izvestia takes a look at what Iran can expect under a new US administration. "The Trump administration, in coordination with Israel and several Gulf states, is pushing a plan to slap a long string of new sanctions on Iran in the 10 weeks left until Joe Biden’s inauguration on January 20," the Axios news portal reported earlier. The US plans to introduce new sanctions every week until Biden’s inauguration. Trump understands that his strategy has failed and that he lost, Adlan Margoev, an analyst at the Institute of International Studies at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO University), told Izvestia. "However, giving up is not his style, so in the remaining weeks, he plans to make the most of his mandate and make the first few months of the new administration harder. The US sanctions machine is a state within a state, and taking into account the fact that [Iranian] President [Hassan] Rouhani plans to resign in the summer of 2021, the Biden administration will not have time for a quick return to the JCPOA," the expert said. The Biden administration may go back to diplomatic bargaining between Tehran and Washington, Head of the Center for North American Studies at the Primakov Institute of World Economy and International Relations (IMEMO) Viktoria Zhuravleva told the paper. "The position of the Democratic Party fundamentally differs from the position of the Trump administration and the Republican Party on the whole. Obama didn’t promote this Iranian deal for nothing. The Democratic Party thinks that this deal was of fundamental importance, that it was the basis for building relations between the US and Iran. Trump understands that the Democrats will try to get the deal back, and right now, he is trying to complicate this process as much as he can," she explained. She added that so far, it is hard to say whether Trump will have time to damage the difficult relations between Washington and Tehran even further. "The pressure from his administration will be pushed to the maximum. Will Biden be able to fix it? Definitely not immediately and definitely not quickly: but if Biden sends certain signals to Iran right now, they will understand that what is happening is temporary, and they will have a different reaction to the new sanctions," the analyst concluded. Izvestia: EU looks to change its immigration policy after spate of terror attacks
After a string of terrorist attacks in Europe, the EU has decided to once again revise its approach to immigration and security. French President Emmanuel Macron stated that EU members must radically change the Schengen system, beefing up control of its external borders. The European Commission told Izvestia that Schengen reform is definitely necessary. In this regard, the EU is working on a new strategy that will determine how the system will work in the future, with its outline set to be announced in December. Sources in the European commission told Izvestia that the Schengen zone is one of the greatest achievements of the EU, and it is in the EU’s shared interest to maintain its integrity and the functionality without introducing control over its internal borders. However, the Schengen zone has been under growing pressure in recent years due to a number of crises, and it needs to be reformed, the source added. The source noted that by early December, the European Commission will hold its first forum on the Schengen zone, which will involve members of the European Parliament, interior ministers and other representatives of national governments. The new strategy will include the following elements: increased control and management of external borders; more active cooperation and information exchange between national government bodies, especially the police; mutually linked security systems on the borders; and increased support from EU agencies. As for immigration reform, Nicolas Bay, a member of the European Parliament, told Izvestia that Brussels had tried to introduce quotas for migrants, with each country having its share, however, some countries, like Hungary and Poland, are strongly against this policy. Some countries want to admit as few migrants as possible, but they don’t say so openly, he told the paper. Besides, the low level of cooperation between the origin countries complicates the process of repatriating those who have been refused entry. The system is running out of steam, and the EU is looking for a solution in a new pact, the French politician concluded. Nezavisimaya Gazeta: Top Erdogan official steps down following US election
The resignation of Turkey's Minister of Treasury and Finance Berat Albayrak has been met with widespread speculation over the atmosphere in President Erdogan’s government following the outcome of the US election, Nezavisimaya Gazeta writes. Albayrak is Erdogan’s son-in-law, so he held a key position within the government. The Turkish media predicted that the government was likely to undergo other big shake-ups in the future. Albayrak’s resignation came after Erdogan’s decision to dismiss Murat Uysal from the position of Turkey’s Central Bank governor. There are several versions regarding the Turkish economy czar’s resignation. One of them is tied to the Turkey’s state bank - Halkbank - which has been accused by the US of violating American sanctions against Iran, fraud and money laundering. "The resignation of the Central Bank chief and the treasury minister may be related to the outcome of the US election," Timur Akhmetov, an Ankara-based expert from the Russian International Affairs Council, told Nezavisimaya Gazeta. "The previous head of the Central Bank worked at Halkbank, and the investigation into it may reach an active phase under a new administration. The expert does not rule out that Albayrak may be tied to "the Halkbank case" as well. The Trump administration’s position on Halkbank has been rather sympathetic, the paper notes. During a briefing a couple of years ago, Erdogan claimed that his US colleague had promised to influence his subordinates to end the criminal proceedings against the bank. Nevertheless, in December 2019, a New York court dismissed Halkbank’s motion to suspend the court proceedings. "There was noticeable discontent in the US over the fact that Ankara was allegedly trying to extend its own political game rules to America’s system, and that there was alleged pressure on the court from Trump," Akhmetov pointed out. "Halkbank may become a means for the Democrats to stage a public smack-down of Erdogan, or at least to put pressure on him," he concluded. Rossiyskaya Gazeta: Russian researchers develop device that can detect virus particles


tass--2020-11-11--Moscow’s hospitals accommodate 1,366 COVID-19 patients over the past day

MOSCOW , November 11 .
/TASS/ .
A total of 4,477 COVID-19 patients were identified in Moscow over the past day , 1,366 of whom were taken to hospitals , the city ’ s coronavirus situation monitoring task force told the media on Wednesday .
`` A total of 4,477 new cases of the novel coronavirus infection were confirmed in the city over the past day , 1,366 of whom were taken to hospitals ; 361 hospital patients are on lung ventilators , '' the task force said .
In the group of the newly-identified coronavirus cases 11.3 % are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 45 ; 29.7 % are 46-65 years of age ; 9.7 % percent are between 66 and 79 years ; and 3.8 % are older than 80 .
All patients and their close contacts are under medical observation .
The anti-coronavirus task force has issued a fresh reminder that those above 65 years of age and people with chronic diseases , as well as 6-11 grade school students and university students ( all of them studying online ) are obliged to stay at home .
The wearing of masks and gloves and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Moscow ’ s COVID-19 rates are Russia ’ s highest .
In all , 485,545 cases of the infection have been identified in the city since the pandemic began ; 350,746 have recovered and 7,502 died .

MOSCOW, November 11. /TASS/. A total of 4,477 COVID-19 patients were identified in Moscow over the past day, 1,366 of whom were taken to hospitals, the city’s coronavirus situation monitoring task force told the media on Wednesday.
"A total of 4,477 new cases of the novel coronavirus infection were confirmed in the city over the past day, 1,366 of whom were taken to hospitals; 361 hospital patients are on lung ventilators," the task force said.
In the group of the newly-identified coronavirus cases 11.3% are children; 45.5% are aged 18 to 45; 29.7% are 46-65 years of age; 9.7% percent are between 66 and 79 years; and 3.8% are older than 80. All patients and their close contacts are under medical observation.
The anti-coronavirus task force has issued a fresh reminder that those above 65 years of age and people with chronic diseases, as well as 6-11 grade school students and university students (all of them studying online) are obliged to stay at home. The wearing of masks and gloves and social distancing at public places is obligatory.
Moscow’s COVID-19 rates are Russia’s highest. In all, 485,545 cases of the infection have been identified in the city since the pandemic began; 350,746 have recovered and 7,502 died.


tass--2020-11-11--Moscow’s daily rate of newly-identified COVID-19 cases at two-week record-low

Russia reports less than 20,000 daily COVID-19 cases for the first time since November 5 MOSCOW , November 11 .
@ @ @ @ @ of newly-identified COVID-19 cases in Moscow has been down to 4,477 , a record-low since @ @ @ @ @ from statistics released by the federal anti-coronavirus task force .
In St. Petersburg , the @ @ @ @ @ in one day was the highest again , 1,574 .

Russia reports less than 20,000 daily COVID-19 cases for the first time since November 5
MOSCOW, November 11. /TASS/. The daily rate of newly-identified COVID-19 cases in Moscow has been down to 4,477, a record-low since October 28, as follows from statistics released by the federal anti-coronavirus task force.
In St. Petersburg, the number of new cases exposed in one day was the highest again, 1,574.


tass--2020-11-11--Georgia reports over 2,900 COVID-19 cases in 24 hours

TBILISI , November 11 .
/TASS/ .
The number of coronavirus cases in Georgia grew by 2,911 in the past @ @ @ @ @ total to 66,561 , the government ’ s website on coronavirus spread informed on Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ red zone ’ due to COVID-19 spread , Health Ministry says On Tuesday , the @ @ @ @ @ , and on November 9 , 2,927 new cases were confirmed .
Another 2,421 people @ @ @ @ @ hours , bringing the total number of recoveries to 49,811 ( 74.84 % of all @ @ @ @ @ total of 3,181 are undergoing treatment under medical supervision in special hotels .
The coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ stood at 1.13 over the past eight days .
To date , 1.8 % of @ @ @ @ @ 3,716,900 people , have been diagnosed with COVID-19 .
A record high number of patients @ @ @ @ @ the past 24 hours nationwide , pushing the death toll to 566 .
Georgia has @ @ @ @ @ tests , with 26.94 % of its residents tested for the disease .

TBILISI, November 11. /TASS/. The number of coronavirus cases in Georgia grew by 2,911 in the past 24 hours, taking the total to 66,561, the government’s website on coronavirus spread informed on Wednesday.
Georgia moves to ‘red zone’ due to COVID-19 spread, Health Ministry says
On Tuesday, the authorities reported 2,970 COVID-19 cases, and on November 9, 2,927 new cases were confirmed.
Another 2,421 people recovered in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of recoveries to 49,811 (74.84% of all infected individuals).
A total of 3,181 are undergoing treatment under medical supervision in special hotels.
The coronavirus spread rate in Georgia has stood at 1.13 over the past eight days. To date, 1.8% of the population, which equals 3,716,900 people, have been diagnosed with COVID-19.
A record high number of patients (45) died in the past 24 hours nationwide, pushing the death toll to 566. Georgia has so far conducted 1,001,299 coronavirus tests, with 26.94% of its residents tested for the disease.


tass--2020-11-11--Scientist: Containment booms should be set up across rivers near Norilsk every spring

Analyzing contaminant levels in rivers near Norilsk is one of the objectives of the Great Norilsk Expedition , featuring experts of the Russian Academy of Sciences ’ Siberian Branch .
The Expedition ’ s leader of the hydro-chemical team , Deputy Director of the Institute for Water and Environmental Problems ( located in Barnaul ) Dmitry Bezmaternykh shared first results of the studies with TASS .
He voiced recommendations the institute wants to give to businesses working in the Arctic – the region , which has been changing greatly in the changing climate .
- The Great Norilsk Expedition ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ completed .
Can you share some results ?
- We have seen that the most contaminated watercourse is the Bezymyannyi Creek , which is also called Nadezhdinsky , into which in fact the fuel was streaming .
Less contamination was further down , in the Daddykan River , into which that creek drains .
And yet less contamination was seen in the Ambarnaya River .
Further on , tests of upper water layers in Lake Pyasino and the outflowing Pyasina River showed almost undetectable contaminant levels .
We have collected samples in all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the contamination source , compared them and saw clearly the contaminant levels were falling in lower streams .
During the tests , we see the oil contamination as well as other changing criteria , like heavy metals , turbidity , suspended solids and so on .
- Correct .
We took samples a month after the accident .
The water flows , gets cleaned , and thus the contaminations we saw in the rivers had originated from what had been washed off the shores or what had developed from the bottom sediments .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ not contaminated ?
- Since we have analyzed the quality of surface waters , we have not found traces of contamination from that impact .
However , this does not mean there is no contamination on the bottom or it may not appear in future , for example , after the spring high-water season .
- What can you say about the general industrial contamination of the lake and the rivers , which you have analyzed ?
- It is too early to speak about it .
Every institute has been working on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reports would be merged .
At that time , we will see the data on the watersheds , on bottom sediments and on the biota .
After that , we will be able to present general conclusions .
- What water contaminating agents have you seen most often ?
- Oil products , of course .
In the crook , we have registered higher temperature , turbidity , and the water transparency was 0.5-1 centimeter , not more .
We have also pointed to high contents of metals like copper , zinc , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is no wonder for that region .
The plants there have been processing for decades locally mined copper-nickel ores .
Or the reason could be a local geo-chemical background , which is seen at the background areas , or those could be results from ore processing .
Anyway , at the background areas the contents of metals were much lower than in the contaminated areas .
- Does your institute want the expedition to continue ?
Do you have what to do in winter ?
- In winter , for our team working @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as most small watersheds can be fully frozen .
We could take samples only in the lake or in big rivers .
Anyway , further studies of how water cleans itself could be very useful .
- What is the self-cleaning capacity of Arctic rivers ?
How can you compare it with that of rivers on the mainland ?
- Of course , it is lower in the Arctic .
This can be explained by low temperatures , which slow down chemical and biochemical processes .
Besides , the self-cleaning capacity depends @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its ability to receive fresh waters .
The water streams , into which the fuel has spilled from the tank , are low-flows , and they were unable to dilute the huge moving flow .
Bigger rivers , like , for example , the Pyanisa , definitely have higher self-cleaning abilities , which depend directly on communities of water plants and animals .
As a rule , cold-water ecosystems do not have high levels of biocenosis , which favors self-cleaning .
On the other hand , the location in the North has certain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in oxygen , and initial waters are rather clean – these features are positive for self-cleaning .
Unfortunately , this is not a key factor .
Most importantly – in the North , winters are long and vegetation periods are short .
In winter , practically all self-cleaning factors slow down dramatically .
- What in your opinion is the self-cleaning period for the Bezymyannyi Crook and the Daldykan and Ambarnaya Rivers ?
- Many factors affect the situation .
First of all , we see active cleaning from the contamination , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have played a very positive role in limiting the oil spread .
I believe they should be re-installed in spring , in the season of high water .
This way , any remaining fuel would not be allowed into the rivers .
It is difficult to say how much fuel has been collected from the shores .
If nothing had been done , the contamination would have remained for many years , and specifically heavy fractions - in bottom sediments .
Contaminated soils have been removed rather actively from the watersheds , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all .
High waters may wash the remaining fuel off the shorelines , and , secondly , strong flows wash riverbeds , stirring up bottom sediments and heavy fractions of oil products .
- Based on the efforts made , can you forecast the water self-cleaning term : five – ten years ?
- Scientifically speaking , unfortunately , it is impossible to give a forecast .
We lack situations to compare with this accident .
Fuel spills are usually spills of raw oil from pipelines , and the contents of oil products @ @ @ @ @ @ @ subject for further studies , and I ’ d rather not give false forecasts .
- What recommendations will your institute give to businesses in the Arctic ?
- To have highly responsible ecology policies , not to skimp on the environment protection .
Besides , we are aware of the climate changes , which may affect the perennially frozen grounds , may change their stability thus threatening the environment with man-made impacts .
We should be prepared , not waiting for such events to happen , we should do our best to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ important direction is to organize the environment monitoring in areas , where affecting companies are working .
It should be an industrial ecology monitoring , which , unfortunately , is not well developed in this country .
Socially responsible businesses should undertake it , and the data should be in open sources , best if they are online .
There are many technologies to choose from : automatic probes , sensors that are installed in the water and allow real-time transmission of information onto the Internet .
Any person , an ecologist , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how this or that plant is affecting the nature .
The approach of the kind builds up the discipline and improves communication between the society and businesses .
- Is there any automatic monitoring in Norilsk ?
- As for the watersheds , we have not seen such monitoring .
Norilsk has been introducing monitoring of the air ; not of the waters as yet .
- How apparent are the climate changes in the Arctic , which may be seen in conditions of water reservoirs ?
- Unfortunately , we have not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public and scientific sources we know about the changing hydrology cycle , the number of water resources , and the changing distribution of water flows within a year .
The process develops differently in every region .
In some regions , water resources become smaller , continues aridification , that is falling humidity , and in other regions , on the contrary , precipitations have been growing .
The permafrost ’ s thawing adds water , but , on the other side , when water sources are not the permafrost but rather a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keep more water .
Water flows change within a year .
- We have studied hydrochemistry , not hydrology .
This is something to be analyzed additionally , probably next year , if the Great Norilsk Expedition continues .

Analyzing contaminant levels in rivers near Norilsk is one of the objectives of the Great Norilsk Expedition, featuring experts of the Russian Academy of Sciences’ Siberian Branch. The Expedition’s leader of the hydro-chemical team, Deputy Director of the Institute for Water and Environmental Problems (located in Barnaul) Dmitry Bezmaternykh shared first results of the studies with TASS. He voiced recommendations the institute wants to give to businesses working in the Arctic – the region, which has been changing greatly in the changing climate.
- The Great Norilsk Expedition’s laboratory tests are about to be completed. Can you share some results?
- We have seen that the most contaminated watercourse is the Bezymyannyi Creek, which is also called Nadezhdinsky, into which in fact the fuel was streaming. Less contamination was further down, in the Daddykan River, into which that creek drains. And yet less contamination was seen in the Ambarnaya River. Further on, tests of upper water layers in Lake Pyasino and the outflowing Pyasina River showed almost undetectable contaminant levels. We have collected samples in all those watercourses and reservoirs higher and lower the contamination source, compared them and saw clearly the contaminant levels were falling in lower streams. During the tests, we see the oil contamination as well as other changing criteria, like heavy metals, turbidity, suspended solids and so on.
- As waters flow, the fuel contaminant levels drop gradually…
- Correct. We took samples a month after the accident. The water flows, gets cleaned, and thus the contaminations we saw in the rivers had originated from what had been washed off the shores or what had developed from the bottom sediments.
- Can we say Lake Pyasino is not contaminated?
- Since we have analyzed the quality of surface waters, we have not found traces of contamination from that impact. However, this does not mean there is no contamination on the bottom or it may not appear in future, for example, after the spring high-water season.
- What can you say about the general industrial contamination of the lake and the rivers, which you have analyzed?
- It is too early to speak about it. Every institute has been working on its report, and later on those reports would be merged. At that time, we will see the data on the watersheds, on bottom sediments and on the biota. After that, we will be able to present general conclusions.
- What water contaminating agents have you seen most often?
- Oil products, of course. In the crook, we have registered higher temperature, turbidity, and the water transparency was 0.5-1 centimeter, not more. We have also pointed to high contents of metals like copper, zinc, manganese, cobalt and nickel. Which is no wonder for that region. The plants there have been processing for decades locally mined copper-nickel ores. Or the reason could be a local geo-chemical background, which is seen at the background areas, or those could be results from ore processing. Anyway, at the background areas the contents of metals were much lower than in the contaminated areas.
- Does your institute want the expedition to continue? Do you have what to do in winter?
- In winter, for our team working in the Far North is rather problematic, as most small watersheds can be fully frozen. We could take samples only in the lake or in big rivers. Anyway, further studies of how water cleans itself could be very useful.
- What is the self-cleaning capacity of Arctic rivers? How can you compare it with that of rivers on the mainland?
- Of course, it is lower in the Arctic. This can be explained by low temperatures, which slow down chemical and biochemical processes. Besides, the self-cleaning capacity depends on the watershed’s volume and its ability to receive fresh waters. The water streams, into which the fuel has spilled from the tank, are low-flows, and they were unable to dilute the huge moving flow. Bigger rivers, like, for example, the Pyanisa, definitely have higher self-cleaning abilities, which depend directly on communities of water plants and animals. As a rule, cold-water ecosystems do not have high levels of biocenosis, which favors self-cleaning.
On the other hand, the location in the North has certain advantages. Water flows there are rich in oxygen, and initial waters are rather clean – these features are positive for self-cleaning. Unfortunately, this is not a key factor. Most importantly – in the North, winters are long and vegetation periods are short. In winter, practically all self-cleaning factors slow down dramatically.
- What in your opinion is the self-cleaning period for the Bezymyannyi Crook and the Daldykan and Ambarnaya Rivers?
- Many factors affect the situation. First of all, we see active cleaning from the contamination, the soil re-vegetation is active. The booms have played a very positive role in limiting the oil spread. I believe they should be re-installed in spring, in the season of high water. This way, any remaining fuel would not be allowed into the rivers. It is difficult to say how much fuel has been collected from the shores. If nothing had been done, the contamination would have remained for many years, and specifically heavy fractions - in bottom sediments.
Contaminated soils have been removed rather actively from the watersheds, but it is technically impossible to collect them all. High waters may wash the remaining fuel off the shorelines, and, secondly, strong flows wash riverbeds, stirring up bottom sediments and heavy fractions of oil products.
- Based on the efforts made, can you forecast the water self-cleaning term: five – ten years?
- Scientifically speaking, unfortunately, it is impossible to give a forecast. We lack situations to compare with this accident. Fuel spills are usually spills of raw oil from pipelines, and the contents of oil products are different there. This is a subject for further studies, and I’d rather not give false forecasts.
- What recommendations will your institute give to businesses in the Arctic?
- To have highly responsible ecology policies, not to skimp on the environment protection. Besides, we are aware of the climate changes, which may affect the perennially frozen grounds, may change their stability thus threatening the environment with man-made impacts. We should be prepared, not waiting for such events to happen, we should do our best to forecast and prevent such developments.
Another important direction is to organize the environment monitoring in areas, where affecting companies are working. It should be an industrial ecology monitoring, which, unfortunately, is not well developed in this country. Socially responsible businesses should undertake it, and the data should be in open sources, best if they are online. There are many technologies to choose from: automatic probes, sensors that are installed in the water and allow real-time transmission of information onto the Internet. Any person, an ecologist, a worker will be able to see how this or that plant is affecting the nature. The approach of the kind builds up the discipline and improves communication between the society and businesses.
- Is there any automatic monitoring in Norilsk?
- As for the watersheds, we have not seen such monitoring. Norilsk has been introducing monitoring of the air; not of the waters as yet.
- How apparent are the climate changes in the Arctic, which may be seen in conditions of water reservoirs?
- Unfortunately, we have not made such studies. However, from public and scientific sources we know about the changing hydrology cycle, the number of water resources, and the changing distribution of water flows within a year. The process develops differently in every region. In some regions, water resources become smaller, continues aridification, that is falling humidity, and in other regions, on the contrary, precipitations have been growing. The permafrost’s thawing adds water, but, on the other side, when water sources are not the permafrost but rather a swamp, they, vice versa, keep more water. Water flows change within a year.
- How annual water flows change near Norilsk?
- We have studied hydrochemistry, not hydrology. This is something to be analyzed additionally, probably next year, if the Great Norilsk Expedition continues.
Interviewer: Igor Yermachenkov


tass--2020-11-11--Russia reports less than 20,000 daily COVID-19 cases for the first time since November 5

WHO reports record growth in coronavirus cases over week MOSCOW , November 11 .
/TASS/ .
Russia ’ s coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ the past day and for the first time since November 5 the daily case tally @ @ @ @ @ the anti-coronavirus crisis center reported on Wednesday .
Russia ’ s total COVID-19 case count @ @ @ @ @ average growth rate dropped from 1.2 % to 1.1 % .

WHO reports record growth in coronavirus cases over week
MOSCOW, November 11. /TASS/. Russia’s coronavirus cases grew by 19,851 in the past day and for the first time since November 5 the daily case tally was less than 20,000, the anti-coronavirus crisis center reported on Wednesday.
Russia’s total COVID-19 case count rose to 1,836,960. The average growth rate dropped from 1.2% to 1.1%.


tass--2020-11-11--Biden victory to push China closer to Russia, Japanese expert says

`` The Donald Trump administration labels China as a US strategic rival , '' the expert noted .
Washington has been consistently carrying out a tough policy on China .
This line is unlikely to change under Biden .
In the coming years we will see continued strategic rivalry between the US and China , '' according to the expert .
`` In other words , China will still face a tough situation in its relations with the US , what will push it closer to Russia .
The relations with Russia will be more important for Beijing as well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which will remain under US sanctions .
This trend is likely to continue under Biden , '' he noted .
The Japanese expert believes that currently there are no prospects of ironing out the territorial issue between Tokyo and Moscow .
`` It ’ s hard to expect any sharp progress here , '' he noted .
`` However , in the mid-term and in the longer term Japan will seek to improve ties with Russia and sign a peace treaty based on the solution to the territorial issue . ''
According @ @ @ @ @ @ @ victory in the US presidential election is unlikely to have a significant impact on this situation .
Though the vote count is still underway , major US media outlets project that the Democratic contender has presumptively won the presidential election .
Both Fox News and Associated Press have put Biden over the top , beyond the needed 270 vote threshold .
Trump is challenging the current outcome , claiming irregularities in the ballot processing in key swing states , and has filed lawsuits to fight his case in court .

"The Donald Trump administration labels China as a US strategic rival," the expert noted. Washington has been consistently carrying out a tough policy on China. This line is unlikely to change under Biden. In the coming years we will see continued strategic rivalry between the US and China," according to the expert.
"In other words, China will still face a tough situation in its relations with the US, what will push it closer to Russia. The relations with Russia will be more important for Beijing as well as the relations with China for Russia, which will remain under US sanctions. This trend is likely to continue under Biden," he noted.
The Japanese expert believes that currently there are no prospects of ironing out the territorial issue between Tokyo and Moscow. "It’s hard to expect any sharp progress here," he noted. "However, in the mid-term and in the longer term Japan will seek to improve ties with Russia and sign a peace treaty based on the solution to the territorial issue." According to the expert, Biden’s victory in the US presidential election is unlikely to have a significant impact on this situation.
Though the vote count is still underway, major US media outlets project that the Democratic contender has presumptively won the presidential election. Both Fox News and Associated Press have put Biden over the top, beyond the needed 270 vote threshold. Trump is challenging the current outcome, claiming irregularities in the ballot processing in key swing states, and has filed lawsuits to fight his case in court.


tass--2020-11-11--Hainan announces a new set of measures to improve key industries

HAIKOU , November 11 .
/TASS/ .
China 's Hainan has announced another package of measures to modernize the healthcare system , transport and improve social projects , including those concerning foreign citizens , reported the local administration .
`` The program is being implemented in accordance with the official regulations and has received a positive assessment from the competent authorities , as well as renowned experts , '' according to the information published on Hainan 's free trade port WeChat page .
As noted in the document , the changes will primarily affect the mechanism of registration of labor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The authorities promise to expedite the `` unified window '' to ensure the simultaneous implementation of procedures for registering the place of work and residence of foreigners on Hainan .
In addition , the government intends to cut the time it takes to obtain social security services by proxy by 90 % .
`` After the transformation of the current system , it will take , on average , only four days .
Moreover , if previously an interested person had to visit government institutions more than once , now it is enough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ local administration explained .
According to statement , the provincial leadership decided to modernize the mechanism for controlling the operation of air routes in the lower airspace .
With the help of state-owned companies , an integrated system of airports of various categories will be created in the region , including 20 air harbors .
The coordination between them will be handled by a unified flight service center .
According to the Hainan authorities , more than 60 enterprises related to civil aviation , research and development , as well as the organization @ @ @ @ @ @ @ part in this project .
The document provides information on the establishment of Hainan 's `` unified system '' for the registration of sea vessels .
Thanks to that , by submitting an application , the vehicle owner will not have to spend unnecessary efforts and time to bypass all the departments associated with the paperwork .
The new mechanism will reduce the duration of procedures from 52 to seven days .
Another measure will include the improvement of the integrated control platform previously created to better the traceability ( identification by registration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of medical devices , which are usually used in the provision of emergency services .
Thanks to this innovation , a permit to operate the demanded equipment in hospitals can be obtained in just one day , while previously formalities took an average of 27 days .
Thus , the clinics of Hainan were able to implement highly effective treatments for cancer and rare diseases in the shortest possible time .
The simplification and unification of the system for financing pre-project work during the construction of infrastructure facilities was also on the list @ @ @ @ @ @ @ estimates , such a measure will significantly reduce the costs and timing of programs .
In addition , this should lead to better coordination between government agencies and responsible companies .
The authorities presented a plan for the free trade port ’ s development on June , 1 .
In accordance with the plan , the Hainan province will be turned into a special customs zone .
The country ’ s government intends in general to wrap up the creation of the free trade port on the island by 2025 : by this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to ensure free trade and investments .
By 2035 , the free trade port and its model will become more solid .
By this time , Hainan intends to ensure the freedom of trade and investments , trans-border movement of capital , people and shipping .
By 2025 , the Chinese government intends to create an `` international center for tourism and consumption '' on Hainan .
In order to do so , the `` Eastern Hawaii '' with their unique natural landscapes , thick rainforests and great climate will establish a developed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with white sandy beaches stretching along the coastline .
The combination of an exotic subtropical nature and a modern eco-friendly infrastructure will boost tourist inflow to the island from the most distant parts of the world .

HAIKOU, November 11. /TASS/. China's Hainan has announced another package of measures to modernize the healthcare system, transport and improve social projects, including those concerning foreign citizens, reported the local administration.
"The program is being implemented in accordance with the official regulations and has received a positive assessment from the competent authorities, as well as renowned experts," according to the information published on Hainan's free trade port WeChat page.
The new measures
As noted in the document, the changes will primarily affect the mechanism of registration of labor activity for representatives of other countries. The authorities promise to expedite the "unified window" to ensure the simultaneous implementation of procedures for registering the place of work and residence of foreigners on Hainan. In addition, the government intends to cut the time it takes to obtain social security services by proxy by 90%. "After the transformation of the current system, it will take, on average, only four days. Moreover, if previously an interested person had to visit government institutions more than once, now it is enough to come only once," the local administration explained.
According to statement, the provincial leadership decided to modernize the mechanism for controlling the operation of air routes in the lower airspace. With the help of state-owned companies, an integrated system of airports of various categories will be created in the region, including 20 air harbors. The coordination between them will be handled by a unified flight service center. According to the Hainan authorities, more than 60 enterprises related to civil aviation, research and development, as well as the organization of emergency response activities are already taking part in this project.
The document provides information on the establishment of Hainan's "unified system" for the registration of sea vessels. Thanks to that, by submitting an application, the vehicle owner will not have to spend unnecessary efforts and time to bypass all the departments associated with the paperwork. The new mechanism will reduce the duration of procedures from 52 to seven days.
Another measure will include the improvement of the integrated control platform previously created to better the traceability (identification by registration with a unified system of standards) of medical devices, which are usually used in the provision of emergency services. Thanks to this innovation, a permit to operate the demanded equipment in hospitals can be obtained in just one day, while previously formalities took an average of 27 days. Thus, the clinics of Hainan were able to implement highly effective treatments for cancer and rare diseases in the shortest possible time.
The simplification and unification of the system for financing pre-project work during the construction of infrastructure facilities was also on the list of the new measures. According to estimates, such a measure will significantly reduce the costs and timing of programs. In addition, this should lead to better coordination between government agencies and responsible companies.
The authorities presented a plan for the free trade port’s development on June, 1. In accordance with the plan, the Hainan province will be turned into a special customs zone. The country’s government intends in general to wrap up the creation of the free trade port on the island by 2025: by this time the island should acquire a system to ensure free trade and investments.
By 2035, the free trade port and its model will become more solid. By this time, Hainan intends to ensure the freedom of trade and investments, trans-border movement of capital, people and shipping.
By 2025, the Chinese government intends to create an "international center for tourism and consumption" on Hainan. In order to do so, the "Eastern Hawaii" with their unique natural landscapes, thick rainforests and great climate will establish a developed network of hotels, which blend perfectly with white sandy beaches stretching along the coastline. The combination of an exotic subtropical nature and a modern eco-friendly infrastructure will boost tourist inflow to the island from the most distant parts of the world.


tass--2020-11-11--Armenian PM says there was probability of losing Stepanakert without Karabakh deal

YEREVAN , November 11 .
/TASS/ .
Armenia had to sign an agreement to end hostilities in Nagorno-Karabakh in order to prevent a military collapse , Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said on Wednesday during a live broadcast on his Facebook page .
`` If the fighting had continued , there was a very high probability that Stepanakert , Martuni , and Askeran would have fallen .
Subsequently , thousands of our soldiers could have been surrounded , that is , a collapse would have happened .
We had to sign that agreement , '' he noted .
According to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recommendations by the General Staff and the leadership of the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic .
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 .
The Russian leader said the Azerbaijani and Armenian sides would maintain the positions that they had held and Russian peacekeepers would be deployed to the region .
Besides , Baku and Yerevan must exchange prisoners and the bodies of those killed .
On Tuesday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Staff said that the armed forces would honor the agreement and called on people to refrain from actions that would destabilize the situation in the country .
Armenian President Armen Sarkissian announced the beginning of political consultations to discuss the situation after the signing of the Nagorno-Karabakh agreement .

YEREVAN, November 11. /TASS/. Armenia had to sign an agreement to end hostilities in Nagorno-Karabakh in order to prevent a military collapse, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said on Wednesday during a live broadcast on his Facebook page.
"If the fighting had continued, there was a very high probability that Stepanakert, Martuni, and Askeran would have fallen. Subsequently, thousands of our soldiers could have been surrounded, that is, a collapse would have happened. We had to sign that agreement," he noted.
According to Pashinyan, the decision was made after recommendations by the General Staff and the leadership of the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.
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. The Russian leader said the Azerbaijani and Armenian sides would maintain the positions that they had held and Russian peacekeepers would be deployed to the region. Besides, Baku and Yerevan must exchange prisoners and the bodies of those killed.
On Tuesday, Armenia’s Defense Ministry and General Staff said that the armed forces would honor the agreement and called on people to refrain from actions that would destabilize the situation in the country. Armenian President Armen Sarkissian announced the beginning of political consultations to discuss the situation after the signing of the Nagorno-Karabakh agreement.


tass--2020-11-11--Turkey seeks to produce Sputnik V vaccine at its facilities

MOSCOW , November 11 .
/TASS/ .
Turkey voiced interest in launching production of Russia ’ s Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine at the facilities of its own pharmaceutical manufacturers , the Russian Health Ministry told reporters on Wednesday after talks between Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko and his Turkish counterpart Fahrettin Koca .
`` The sides discussed the situation with the novel coronavirus infection ’ s spread and especially focused on the issues of developing vaccines for preventing COVID-19 .
The Turkish health minister expressed interest in launching Sputnik V vaccine ’ s production at the facilities of Turkish pharmaceutical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by local legislation , '' the ministry said .
At the meeting , Murashko also assured Koca that Russia was ready to launch toxicological studies at a certified laboratory .
`` The sides agreed to start implementing the agreements in the coming days , '' the ministry noted .
On August 11 , Russia registered the world ’ s first vaccine against the novel coronavirus .
The vaccine , dubbed Sputnik V , was developed by the Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology of the Russian Health Ministry , and its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The vaccine was developed on a platform that had been used for a number of other vaccines .
Head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund ( RDIF ) Kirill Dmitriev stated earlier that Russia had already received requests from 20 countries to supply 1 bln doses of the vaccine .

MOSCOW, November 11. /TASS/. Turkey voiced interest in launching production of Russia’s Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine at the facilities of its own pharmaceutical manufacturers, the Russian Health Ministry told reporters on Wednesday after talks between Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko and his Turkish counterpart Fahrettin Koca.
"The sides discussed the situation with the novel coronavirus infection’s spread and especially focused on the issues of developing vaccines for preventing COVID-19. The Turkish health minister expressed interest in launching Sputnik V vaccine’s production at the facilities of Turkish pharmaceutical manufacturers after carrying out toxicological studies envisaged by local legislation," the ministry said.
At the meeting, Murashko also assured Koca that Russia was ready to launch toxicological studies at a certified laboratory. "The sides agreed to start implementing the agreements in the coming days," the ministry noted.
On August 11, Russia registered the world’s first vaccine against the novel coronavirus. The vaccine, dubbed Sputnik V, was developed by the Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology of the Russian Health Ministry, and its clinical trials were successfully completed in June-July. The vaccine was developed on a platform that had been used for a number of other vaccines. Head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) Kirill Dmitriev stated earlier that Russia had already received requests from 20 countries to supply 1 bln doses of the vaccine.


tass--2020-11-11--Innovex Downhole Solutions to acquire Rubicon Oilfield International

HOUSTON , Nov. 10 , 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Innovex Downhole Solutions , Inc. ( `` Innovex '' ) announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Rubicon Oilfield International ( `` Rubicon '' ) .
The transaction is expected to close in early 2021 and will create the industry 's leading independent well-centric products and technology company .
Terms of the transaction were not disclosed .
Innovex and Rubicon are both leading providers of innovative products , technologies and technical services for the oil and gas industry .
Together , the combined business establishes an expansive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ technology portfolio spanning drilling , well construction , completion , production and intervention .
This transaction combines Innovex 's dynamic US operation with Rubicon 's broad international strength to create a global platform capable of sustained growth in a low commodity price environment .
By leveraging the highly complementary product portfolios and geographic footprints of Innovex and Rubicon , the combined business will deliver greater value to its customers and greater opportunities for its employees .
Leadership of the combined business will include current executives from both companies , and will be led @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , operating under the Innovex brand .
`` I am excited to have the opportunity to combine two great organizations to create an even stronger product and technology-focused company , '' said Anderson .
`` Our company has been successful in bringing to market a broad range of innovative products that enable our customers to develop their resources more cost effectively .
I have a great deal of respect for the people , culture and products at Rubicon , and believe the transaction will enable the combined business to thrive .
The increased @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offering will significantly enhance value for our employees , customers and shareholders . ''
Mike Reeves , President & CEO of Rubicon commented : `` The employees of Rubicon , and the many predecessor companies that formed Rubicon , have worked tirelessly together to build an exciting , client focused organization offering a unique range of high value downhole products .
Our team has safely and effectively supported some of the world 's largest producers in their most challenging wells globally .
Every Rubicon team member is proud of this history and is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ organization .
The combination of Rubicon and Innovex will offer our customers an expansive range of high-quality downhole products , with a strong presence in every major geographic market and supported by an extraordinary team of creative and committed men and women . ''
Innovex Downhole Solutions , Inc. designs , manufactures , and installs a range of mission-critical well construction , well completion and well production solutions for onshore and offshore operators in major producing regions worldwide .
Innovex 's core products include SWAGETM dissolvable frac plugs , WearSox® deepwater centralization products @ @ @ @ @ @ @ frac plugs , Ranger / Scout liner hanger systems , thru tubing services , CentraMax centralizers , float equipment , stage cementing tools , inflatable casing packers , and QCI artificial lift technologies .
The company is headquartered in Houston , Texas and has service centers located in all major U.S. oil and gas basins , Saudi Arabia and Oman .
Innovex is backed by Intervale Capital .
For more information , please visit www.innovex-inc.com Rubicon Oilfield International is an oilfield products and technical services company with operational headquarters in Houston , Texas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ team of oilfield service and equipment industry executives in partnership with Warburg Pincus .
Rubicon 's guiding principle is practical innovation – combining technology and engineering excellence , with an intimate knowledge of the customer 's challenges and applications to develop products that make the difference at any point in the lifecycle of a well .

HOUSTON, Nov. 10, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Innovex Downhole Solutions, Inc. ("Innovex") announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Rubicon Oilfield International ("Rubicon"). The transaction is expected to close in early 2021 and will create the industry's leading independent well-centric products and technology company. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Innovex and Rubicon are both leading providers of innovative products, technologies and technical services for the oil and gas industry. Together, the combined business establishes an expansive and robust global platform, with a technology portfolio spanning drilling, well construction, completion, production and intervention. This transaction combines Innovex's dynamic US operation with Rubicon's broad international strength to create a global platform capable of sustained growth in a low commodity price environment.
By leveraging the highly complementary product portfolios and geographic footprints of Innovex and Rubicon, the combined business will deliver greater value to its customers and greater opportunities for its employees.
Leadership of the combined business will include current executives from both companies, and will be led by Adam Anderson, CEO of Innovex, operating under the Innovex brand.
"I am excited to have the opportunity to combine two great organizations to create an even stronger product and technology-focused company," said Anderson. "Our company has been successful in bringing to market a broad range of innovative products that enable our customers to develop their resources more cost effectively. I have a great deal of respect for the people, culture and products at Rubicon, and believe the transaction will enable the combined business to thrive. The increased scale, distribution network and broader product offering will significantly enhance value for our employees, customers and shareholders."
Mike Reeves, President & CEO of Rubicon commented: "The employees of Rubicon, and the many predecessor companies that formed Rubicon, have worked tirelessly together to build an exciting, client focused organization offering a unique range of high value downhole products. Our team has safely and effectively supported some of the world's largest producers in their most challenging wells globally. Every Rubicon team member is proud of this history and is extremely excited to contribute to the Innovex organization. The combination of Rubicon and Innovex will offer our customers an expansive range of high-quality downhole products, with a strong presence in every major geographic market and supported by an extraordinary team of creative and committed men and women."
About Innovex Downhole Solutions:
Innovex Downhole Solutions, Inc. designs, manufactures, and installs a range of mission-critical well construction, well completion and well production solutions for onshore and offshore operators in major producing regions worldwide. Innovex's core products include SWAGETM dissolvable frac plugs, WearSox® deepwater centralization products, ORIOTM toe valves, TOMCATTM composite frac plugs, Ranger / Scout liner hanger systems, thru tubing services, CentraMax centralizers, float equipment, stage cementing tools, inflatable casing packers, and QCI artificial lift technologies. The company is headquartered in Houston, Texas and has service centers located in all major U.S. oil and gas basins, Saudi Arabia and Oman. Innovex is backed by Intervale Capital.
For more information, please visit www.innovex-inc.com
About Rubicon Oilfield International:
Rubicon Oilfield International is an oilfield products and technical services company with operational headquarters in Houston, Texas. Rubicon is led by a seasoned team of oilfield service and equipment industry executives in partnership with Warburg Pincus. Rubicon's guiding principle is practical innovation – combining technology and engineering excellence, with an intimate knowledge of the customer's challenges and applications to develop products that make the difference at any point in the lifecycle of a well.


tass--2020-11-11--France to perform observation flight over Russia under Open Skies Treaty

`` On November 9-13 , France will conduct an observation flight over Russia ’ s territory as part of implementing the Open Skies Treaty aboard a Romanian An-30 observation plane from the Kubinka airfield , '' Ryzhkov said .
MOSCOW , November 11 .
/TASS/ .
French observers will carry out a flight over Russia under the Treaty on Open Skies , head of the Russian National Nuclear Risk Reduction Center Sergei Ryzhkov said , according to Krasnaya Zvezda ( Red Star ) newspaper .
According to him , during the flight Russian specialists aboard the An-30 plane will control @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parameters and using observation equipment stipulated by the treaty . ''
The Antonov An-30 is a plane , which is not designed for using any types of weapons .
`` The plane and the surveillance equipment installed on it ( aerial surveying cameras ) have undergone international examination , which also involved Russian specialists , and this rules out using technical means not envisaged by the treaty , '' Ryzhkov explained .
Observation flights promote greater openness and transparency in the military activity of member-states of the Treaty , the official said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to build transparency , render assistance in monitoring compliance with existing or future arms control agreements , broaden possibilities for preventing crises and managing crisis situations .
The accord establishes a program of unarmed aerial surveillance flights over the entire territory of its participants .
Now , the treaty has more than 30 signatory states .
Russia ratified the Treaty on Open Skies on May 26 , 2001 .

"On November 9-13, France will conduct an observation flight over Russia’s territory as part of implementing the Open Skies Treaty aboard a Romanian An-30 observation plane from the Kubinka airfield," Ryzhkov said.
MOSCOW, November 11. /TASS/. French observers will carry out a flight over Russia under the Treaty on Open Skies, head of the Russian National Nuclear Risk Reduction Center Sergei Ryzhkov said, according to Krasnaya Zvezda (Red Star) newspaper.
According to him, during the flight Russian specialists aboard the An-30 plane will control "strict compliance with the agreed flight parameters and using observation equipment stipulated by the treaty."
The Antonov An-30 is a plane, which is not designed for using any types of weapons. "The plane and the surveillance equipment installed on it (aerial surveying cameras) have undergone international examination, which also involved Russian specialists, and this rules out using technical means not envisaged by the treaty," Ryzhkov explained.
Observation flights promote greater openness and transparency in the military activity of member-states of the Treaty, the official said.
The Open Skies’ main goals are to build transparency, render assistance in monitoring compliance with existing or future arms control agreements, broaden possibilities for preventing crises and managing crisis situations. The accord establishes a program of unarmed aerial surveillance flights over the entire territory of its participants. Now, the treaty has more than 30 signatory states. Russia ratified the Treaty on Open Skies on May 26, 2001.


tass--2020-11-11--Russian Embassy in US announces release of Bogdana Osipova from prison

WASHINGTON , November 11 .
/TASS/ .
The Russian Embassy in the United States announced that Russian national Bogdana Osipova @ @ @ @ @ US prison in Connecticut .
`` We are glad to welcome Bogdana Osipova outside the @ @ @ @ @ Connecticut !
We understand that she still has a lot to endure , while awaiting @ @ @ @ @ verdict , '' the diplomatic mission said .
`` We will continue to seek the @ @ @ @ @ , '' the embassy stressed .
On November 9 , the US Court of Appeal @ @ @ @ @ Osipova .
In 2019 , she was found guilty of kidnaping her own children and @ @ @ @ @ United States as well as of extortion .
She was sentenced to about six years @ @ @ @ @ years in the federal prison in Danbury , Connecticut .
In the middle of July @ @ @ @ @ to allow her to stay under house arrest in view of the pandemic and health @ @

WASHINGTON, November 11. /TASS/. The Russian Embassy in the United States announced that Russian national Bogdana Osipova has been released from a US prison in Connecticut.
"We are glad to welcome Bogdana Osipova outside the walls of Danbury prison, Connecticut! We understand that she still has a lot to endure, while awaiting the announcement of a new verdict," the diplomatic mission said. "We will continue to seek the return of our compatriot home," the embassy stressed.
On November 9, the US Court of Appeal demanded the immediate release of Osipova. In 2019, she was found guilty of kidnaping her own children and taking them out of the United States as well as of extortion. She was sentenced to about six years in jail and served three years in the federal prison in Danbury, Connecticut.
In the middle of July, Osipova asked the court to allow her to stay under house arrest in view of the pandemic and health problems.


tass--2020-11-11--WHO reports record growth in coronavirus cases over week

GENEVA , November 11 .
/TASS/ .
The number of coronavirus cases grew globally over the past week by more than 3.6 mln , which is the highest figure since the beginning of the pandemic .
The number of deaths increased by more than 54,000 , which is 9,000 more than a week earlier , the World Health Organization ( WHO ) reported on Wednesday .
Over the past week , the total number of COVID-19 cases increased by 8 % from the previous week , to more than 3.6 mln , the WHO said .
As of November 8 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and more than 1.2 mln people died .
The largest share of new cases in seven days continues to occur in the European region - that is where more than half of new cases ( 54 % ) and almost half ( 47 % ) of new deaths come from , the organization said .
The previous record for the increase in the incidence in the world in seven days was recorded from October 26 to November 1 - more than 3.3 mln cases .
In late December 2019 , Chinese officials informed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the outbreak of a previously unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan , in central China .
Since then , cases of the novel coronavirus - named COVID-19 by the WHO - have been reported in every corner of the globe , including Russia .
On March 11 , 2020 , the WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic .

GENEVA, November 11. /TASS/. The number of coronavirus cases grew globally over the past week by more than 3.6 mln, which is the highest figure since the beginning of the pandemic. The number of deaths increased by more than 54,000, which is 9,000 more than a week earlier, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported on Wednesday.
Over the past week, the total number of COVID-19 cases increased by 8% from the previous week, to more than 3.6 mln, the WHO said. As of November 8, about 49.7 mln people were infected and more than 1.2 mln people died. The largest share of new cases in seven days continues to occur in the European region - that is where more than half of new cases (54%) and almost half (47%) of new deaths come from, the organization said.
The previous record for the increase in the incidence in the world in seven days was recorded from October 26 to November 1 - more than 3.3 mln cases.
In late December 2019, Chinese officials informed the World Health Organization (WHO) about the outbreak of a previously unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan, in central China. Since then, cases of the novel coronavirus - named COVID-19 by the WHO - have been reported in every corner of the globe, including Russia. On March 11, 2020, the WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic.


tass--2020-11-11--Trump headquarters to challenge election results in Michigan

TASS , November 11 .
The campaign headquarters of the incumbent US President Donald Trump will file a new lawsuit in the Michigan court demanding not to confirm the voting results in the presidential election until it can be proved that all ballots processed in the state were filed legally , Trump campaignattorney Matt Morgan told reporters .
`` We want to make sure that no vote tally includes fraudulently or unlawfully cast ballots , '' Trump campaign attorney Matt Morgan told reporters on a conference call , '' Reuters quoted Morgan as saying .
US Secretary of State Mike @ @ @ @ @ @ @ earlier in an interview with Fox News that the vote count for the US presidential election has not yet been completed .
Though the vote count is still underway , major US media outlets project that the Democratic contender has presumptively won the presidential election .
Both Fox News and Associated Press have put Biden over the top , beyond the needed 270 vote threshold .
Trump is challenging the current outcome , claiming irregularities in the ballot processing in key swing states , and has filed lawsuits to fight his case in @ @

TASS, November 11. The campaign headquarters of the incumbent US President Donald Trump will file a new lawsuit in the Michigan court demanding not to confirm the voting results in the presidential election until it can be proved that all ballots processed in the state were filed legally, Trump campaignattorney Matt Morgan told reporters.
"We want to make sure that no vote tally includes fraudulently or unlawfully cast ballots," Trump campaign attorney Matt Morgan told reporters on a conference call," Reuters quoted Morgan as saying.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo reminded the leaders of other countries earlier in an interview with Fox News that the vote count for the US presidential election has not yet been completed.
Though the vote count is still underway, major US media outlets project that the Democratic contender has presumptively won the presidential election. Both Fox News and Associated Press have put Biden over the top, beyond the needed 270 vote threshold. Trump is challenging the current outcome, claiming irregularities in the ballot processing in key swing states, and has filed lawsuits to fight his case in court.