Russia

MOSCOW, January 10. /TASS/: Coronavirus spread indicator in Russia on Sunday remained at the mark of 0.97. In Moscow this value decreased from 1.12 to 1.09, according to TASS’ calculations based on the data from the anti-coronavirus crisis center.

Thus, nationwide the coefficient in general has been below one since December 28, for two straight weeks. This may indicate the stabilization of the epidemic situation.

MOSCOW, January 10. /TASS/: Trilateral talks of Russian President Vladimir Putin, his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev, and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan will be held on Monday, January 11, in Moscow at the initiative of the Russian head of state. The sides plan to review the implementation of the November 9, 2000 statement of the three leaders on Nagorno-Karabakh and discuss steps to resolve the regional issues, the Kremlin press service reported on Sunday.

MOSCOW, January 9. /TASS/: Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed condolences to President of Indonesia Joko Widodo due to the fact of the passenger airplane crash in the Java Sea. The telegram has been posted on the Kremlin’s website on Saturday.

"Please accept sincere condolences in view of the death of passengers and crewmembers of the airplane crashed near the Java coast. Please convey words of compassion and support to the nearest and dearest of the victims," the telegram says.

KALININGRAD, January 9. /TASS/: A Baltic Fleet detachment consisting of Stoikiy corvette, Kola intermediate sea tanker and Yakov Grebelskiy sea tug made a business call at the Syrian port of Tartus, the Fleet’s press service says.

"Crews of the Baltic Fleet detachment will conduct scheduled inspections of ships and vessels and replenish fuel, water and food stocks during the business call at Tartus. The rest of crews after the long-term voyage will be organized in the port," the press service says.

MOSCOW, January 10. /TASS/: The number of confirmed COVID-19 infections in Russia over the past 24 hours has increased by 22,851, bringing the total to 3,401,954, the anti-coronavirus crisis center told journalists on Sunday.

For the first time since November 18 the number of new detected cases is below 23,000. According to the crisis center, the relative growth of new weekly cases has not surpassed 0.7% for two days.

The lowest daily growth rates were registered in the Republic of Tuva (0.1%), the Jewish Autonomous Region (0.3%).

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Embattled Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said constitutional reforms would be drawn up by the end of the year and then put to a national referendum, RIA news agency reported on Sunday.

Belarus has been rocked by protests since an Aug. 9 presidential election marred by voter fraud allegations. Lukashenko, in power since 1994, has rejected criticism while presiding over a sweeping crackdown in the ex-Soviet republic.

MOSCOW, January 8. /TASS/: The price of futures contracts of Brent crude oil for March 2021 delivery went up by 3.11% on London's ICE on Friday trading compared with the previous closing to $56.07 per barrel, surpassing $56 per barrel for the first time since February 25, 2020, according to the trading data.

Meanwhile, the price of futures contracts of WTI crude oil was up by 2.95% at $52.33 per barrel.

KRASNOYARSK, January 9. /TASS/: The Investigative Department of Russia’s Investigative Committee for the Krasnoyarsk region and the republic of Khakassia has initiated a criminal case on the provision of services that do not meet safety requirements after the death and injury of tourists under an avalanche at a ski base near the city of Norilsk. This is according to a statement the Investigative Department issued on Saturday.

KRASNOYARSK, January 9. /TASS/: The body of a man who disappeared during the avalanche at the ski base in Norilsk was found. Thus, the death toll has increased to three people, investigation department of the Russian Investigative Committee for the Krasnoyarsk Territory and Khakassia told reporters.

"The body of a man was found," the department said.

MOSCOW, January 9. /TASS/: The number of coronavirus cases in Russia increased by 23,309, which was a new minimum since November 18 last year. The total number of cases in the country has reached 3,379,103, the operational headquarters against coronavirus told reporters on Saturday.

In relative terms, the increase in new cases, according to the headquarters, does not exceed 0.7%.

The lowest growth rates were recorded per day in the Republic of Tyva (0.1%) and the Republic of Altai (0.2%).