Europe

SERIATE, Italy (AP) — If there is anything the Rev. Mario Carminati and the traumatized residents of Italy’s Bergamo province remember about the worst days of the coronavirus outbreak, it’s the wail of ambulance sirens piercing the silence of lockdown.

Around the clock for weeks on end, ambulances screamed through Bergamo’s valleys and towns in a terrifying soundtrack of death, as mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers gasping for air were rushed to the hospital. Thousands never came back.

YALTA, September 29. /TASS/: Most products from Ukraine have already been replaced by domestic ones, the same is true for NATO countries' goods, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov told journalists Tuesday.

"As far as I understand, we are past all key stages as well as dependency on Ukrainian producers, meaning we have replaced all main solutions by domestic developments. As for replacement of NATO countries’ products, the key positions are secured," Borisov said.

MOSCOW, September 29. /TASS/: The Kremlin is certain that statements of possible military support for Azerbaijan and Armenia in light of the recent escalation in Nagorno-Karabakh only add fuel to the fire, while the parties should be persuaded to return to political and diplomatic ways to reach settlement, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters Tuesday.

MOSCOW, September 29. /TASS/: Gazprom expects that Turkey's purchases of Russian gas will increase by the end of 2020, Head of Contract Structuring & Price Formation Directorate at Gazprom Export Sergey Komlev said on Tuesday.

MOSCOW, September 29. /TASS/: Engineering and development work for an upgraded configuration of the combat helicopter Ka-52M will be completed in 2022, the CEO of the holding company Helicopters of Russia, (an affiliate of Rostec), Andrei Boginsky, told TASS.

"Currently, research and development is in progress in accordance with the terms of reference. The project will be finalized in 2022," he said.

MOSCOW, September 29. /TASS/: Inoculation against the coronavirus is the step that allows to decrease the level of measures of Russian President’s epidemiologic protection, the Russian leader has already declared his intent to get vaccinated, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists.

"There are, of course, special precautions when it concerns the head of state. He has stated already that he is thinking about the vaccine," the spokesman said. He added that "in order to decrease the level of epidemiologic precaution measures, it is necessary to get inoculated."

29 Sep 2020; MEMO: The British government is probing a hack carried out on computer systems belonging to the British Foreign Ministry, which resulted in hundreds of files exposing its propaganda operations in Syria being stolen.

In the massive security breach reported by the UK-based news outlet Middle East Eye, hackers sought out files focusing specifically on the government’s operations within Syria which were conducted through the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

29 Sep 2020; MEMO: The European Union yesterday expressed its disappointment and concern over the resignation of Lebanon’s prime minister–designate, while urging the Mediterranean country to form a new government in order to obtain financial support from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The EU said that “the Lebanese leaders need to come together and do their best to form the government promptly … It will also be necessary to reach an urgent agreement with the International Monetary Fund.”

THE HAGUE, Sept 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — One of four suspects on trial for the 2014 downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 has denied any involvement with firing or supplying the missile allegedly used in its destruction, a lawyer said in court.

MH17 was flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur when it was shot down by a missile fired from territory held by pro-Russian rebels during fighting in eastern Ukraine, international investigators say. All 298 people on board were killed.

BRUSSELS, Sept 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The European Union warned regional powers not to interfere in fighting in Nagorny Karabakh, and condemned a “serious escalation” that threatens regional stability.

Foreign policy spokesman Peter Stano said Brussels cannot confirm reports of outside forces joining the conflict, but added: “No external interference in this conflict is acceptable.”

Azerbaijani and Armenian forces were battling for a second day on Monday after dozens were killed in an outbreak of heavy fighting.