BEIJING, May 8. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin’s official visit to China may take place in September, Russian Ambassador to China Andrei Denisov told journalists on Friday. “You know, according to the schedule, the summits of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and the BRICS association (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) are scheduled to be held […]
Moscow’s coronavirus death toll rises to 956
MOSCOW, May 8. /TASS/. Another 51 coronavirus patients have died in Moscow, bringing the death toll to 956, the coronavirus monitoring center said in a statement on Thursday. “Another 51 patients have died in Moscow, all of them were diagnosed with pneumonia and tested positive for the coronavirus,” the statement reads. The center pointed out […]
U.K. economy forecast to shrink by most since 1706
London — The Bank of England warned Thursday that the British economy could suffer its deepest annual contraction in more than three centuries as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, before roaring back next year. In what it describes as a “plausible” scenario, the bank said the British economy will be 30% smaller at the end […]
“Murder hornets” may have come to U.S. as “unwitting hitchhikers”
News of the “murder hornets’” arrival in the United States has set the internet abuzz in recent days. Two of the wasps — the world’s largest hornet species — were discovered late last year in Washington state, and scientists have since been trying to track the invasive insects to eradicate them. But how did the […]
Coronavirus expected to peak in world’s poorest countries in months, UN says
A new report published Thursday by the United Nations’ Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said the “peak of coronavirus in the world’s poorest countries is not expected until some point over the next three to six months.” The report is an update to the U.N.’s plan to deal with the pandemic, including the World Health […]
20,000 migrants have been expelled along border under coronavirus directive
The Trump administration announced on Thursday that officials at the southern border have summarily expelled more than 20,000 unauthorized migrant adults, families and children from the U.S. under a broad public health order issued in late March in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Citing the emergency directive by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention […]
Black people in England and Wales are four times more likely to die from the coronavirus, data shows
London — Black people in England and Wales are four times more likely to die from the coronavirus than their white counterparts, according to government data released on Thursday. People of Indian, Pakistani, and other minority-ethnic backgrounds are also at greater risk of dying from COVID-19 than white people, the data showed. The data was […]
Taiwan is a “great example of how to deal with the coronavirus,” expert says
Taiwan is in the international spotlight for having been spared the worst of the coronavirus pandemic. The island has only seen just over 400 confirmed cases since the outbreak began, and is being lauded for its mitigation efforts despite being shut out from World Health Organization meetings. “This has been a really great several months […]
Int’l organizations should punish for failure to honor decisions, says Azerbaijani leader
MOSCOW, May 7. /TASS/. International structures should launch mechanisms that will allow delivering punishment for failing to implement their decisions to avoid losing authority on the global arena, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said in an exclusive interview with TASS First Deputy Director General Mikhail Gusman. “The authority of an international organizations primarily depends on implementation […]
Coronavirus: Amsterdam art centre uses greenhouses to offer outdoor eating amid COVID-19 pandemic
It’s a dilemma that restauranters have been scratching their heads about: how to re-open to diners and stay safe amid the COVID-19 pandemic.One venue in Amsterdam thinks it might have found a solution.Mediamatic Biotoop, an art centre in the Dutch city, is putting outdoor diners in tiny greenhouses in bid to adhere to social distancing […]
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev had a telephone conversation with President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev had a telephone conversation with President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin The two Presidents exchanged mutual congratulations on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic war. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev underlined the special significance of this date for all the peoples of the former Soviet Union who […]
Putin: Russia, US can achieve much, if they follow traditions of allied relations
MOSCOW, May 7. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin noted in a phone talk with US President Donald Trump that Russia and the United States can achieve much, if they follow the traditions of WWII allied relations, the Kremlin press office reported on Thursday. “The historic significance of allied relations that bound our peoples during the […]
German leader declares “first phase” coronavirus victory and eases lockdown
Berlin — Chancellor Angela Merkel says she’s satisfied with the results of Germany’s efforts to battle the coronavirus so far. “The very first phase of the pandemic is behind us,” she said after a weekly conference call with state premiers on Wednesday. Merkel said the goal of phase one, to “flatten the curve,” had been achieved […]
Iraq has a new leader. Stuck between Iran and the U.S., he has his work cut out for him.
Iraqi Prime Minister-designate Mustafa al-Kadhimi delivers a speech during the vote on the new government at the parliament headquarters in Baghdad, Iraq, May 7, 2020. Iraqi Parliament Media Office/Handout/REUTERS Erbil — After five months of difficult negotiations, Iraq’s parliament approved the intelligence chief Mustafa Al-Kadhimi as the country’s new prime minister on Thursday. The long-time spy […]
Forest loss slows globally as sustainable management grows
Globally deforestation continues, albeit at a slower rate, with 10 million hectares a year being converted to other uses since 2015, down from 12 million hectares a year in the previous five years, according to the key findings of a flagship report that is conducted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations […]
Global food commodity prices drop further in April
FAO expects subdued usage to push up cereal stocks in 2019/20 and FAO’s first forecast for wheat markets in 2020/21 points to continued growth in inventories. World food commodity prices declined for the third month in a row during April, as the economic and logistical impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in significant contractions in demand for […]
Oil prices drop highlights post-oil period, says Azerbaijani president
MOSCOW, May 7. /TASS/. The sharp drop of oil prices in the past several months highlights the beginning of the post-oil period in the global economy, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said in an exclusive interview with TASS First Deputy Director General Mikhail Gusman. “I have repeatedly said that we should forget about the oil sector. […]
Reckoning on the horizon for UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson in wake of coronavirus response
By rights, when Boris Johnson stood up in the House of Commons for his first Prime Minister’s Question period in five weeks, he should have come under heavy fire. After all, over the previous 24 hours the U.K.’s coronavirus death toll had passed Italy’s to become the highest in Europe — and the government has still […]
Venezuela to try U.S. men allegedly “caught red-handed” in thwarted invasion attempt
Personal documents are shown by Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro (not pictured) after Venezuela’s government said it foiled an attempted incursion by “terrorist mercenaries” from Colombia, in Caracas, Venezuela May 4, 2020. Miraflores Palace/Handout/REUTERS Caracas — Venezuela will try two Americans allegedly captured during a failed bid by mercenaries to invade the country, President Nicolas Maduro said […]
Russia should keep investment programs for transport sector as much as possible — Putin
NOVO-OGARYOVO, May 7. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin called for preserving investment programs of companies in transport industry as much as possible. He set this task at a meeting on the development of the transport industry. “It is necessary to preserve the investment programs of the transport sector and infrastructure development as much as possible […]
Kiev eyes retake of Donbass until end of 2020 but drafts plan B
KIEV, May 7. /TASS/. The Ukrainian leadership will do everything possible to retake uncontrolled areas of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions before the end of this year but is also preparing a backup plan, chief of the Ukrainian president’s staff Andrei Yermak told reporters on Thursday. “We are not planning to hold futile talks for […]
New Banksy artwork appears at hospital in England
A new painting by Banksy appeared in a hospital in England on Wednesday, BBC News reports. The artwork shows a little boy playing with a nurse action figure, leaving his Batman and Spiderman figures in a toy basket. The nurse figure is wearing a face mask, a cape and an apron with the Red Cross symbol. […]
The President – Supreme Commander-in Chief of the Armed Forces of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s congratulation on the Defender of the Fatherland Day
The President – Supreme Commander-in Chief of the Armed Forces of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s congratulation on the Defender of the Fatherland Day Dear compatriots! I congratulate you on the Defender of the Fatherland Day! The best traditions of Kazakhstan’s army are a natural continuation of the heroism of our ancestors, who bravely defended their Motherland, […]
Venezuela to try U.S. men allegedly “caught red-handed” in thwarted invasion attempt
Personal documents are shown by Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro (not pictured) after Venezuela’s government said it foiled an attempted incursion by “terrorist mercenaries” from Colombia, in Caracas, Venezuela May 4, 2020. Miraflores Palace/Handout/REUTERS Caracas — Venezuela will try two Americans allegedly captured during a failed bid by mercenaries to invade the country, President Nicolas Maduro said […]
Twenty four wildfires active in Russia’s Trans-Baikal Region of 634 registered this year
MOSCOW, May 7. /TASS/. The Russian Ministry for Civil Defense, Emergencies and Elimination of Consequences of Natural Disasters (EMERCOM) has registered 634 wildfires since the beginning of this year in the Trans-Baikal Region, the Ministry’s press service told TASS Thursday. “Since the beginning of this year, 634 wildfires were registered in the Trans-Baikal Region. The […]
“Murder hornets” have now entered the U.S. — and they could decimate the honeybee population
A roughly 2-inch long insect known as the “murder hornet” has made its way to the U.S. for the first time ever, researchers said. The Asian giant hornet, Vespa mandarinia, has been known to kill up to 50 people a year in Japan, according to The New York Times, and has the potential to devastate […]
Pandemic may prompt lifting of sanctions, stronger ties, says Italy’s ex-foreign minister
ROME, May 7. /TASS/. The COVID-19 pandemic offers an opportunity for revising the policy of sanctions against Russia and strengthening cooperation at the international level to the benefit of all countries, Italy’s former foreign minister, Franco Frattini, told TASS in an interview on Thursday. “Time is ripe for reconsidering the policy of sanctions against Russia,” […]
Iraq has a new leader. Stuck between Iran and the U.S., he has his work cut out for him.
Iraqi Prime Minister-designate Mustafa al-Kadhimi delivers a speech during the vote on the new government at the parliament headquarters in Baghdad, Iraq, May 7, 2020. Iraqi Parliament Media Office/Handout/REUTERS Erbil — After five months of difficult negotiations, Iraq’s parliament approved the intelligence chief Mustafa Al-Kadhimi as the country’s new prime minister on Thursday. The long-time spy […]
Saken Musaibekov appointed vice minister of culture and sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Saken Musaibekov appointed vice minister of culture and sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan By the Decree of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Musaibekov Saken Zhunusbekovich was appointed vice minister of culture and sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Saken Musaibekov was born in 1967 in the North Kazakhstan region. He graduated from […]
Video Digest on results of Prime Minister Askar Mamin’s working trip to Karaganda region
Video Digest on results of Prime Minister Askar Mamin’s working trip to Karaganda region May 5, 2020, the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Askar Mamin paid a working visit to the Karaganda region, where he checked the progress in the implementation of the State Program of Industrial and Innovative Development, Nurly Zhol, Nurly Zher and the […]