Europe

FRANKFURT, March 18 (Xinhua) -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel urged solidarity among citizens in a speech on Wednesday evening, calling the coronavirus the nation's biggest challenge since World War II.

"The coronavirus is now changing life in our country dramatically. Our idea of normalcy, of public life, of social interaction -- all of this is being tested like never before," Merkel said in a video speech broadcast nationwide.

LONDON, March 18 (Xinhua) -- British Prime Minister indicated Wednesday night that he is sticking to the timetable that will see Britain and European Union (EU) end the Brexit transition period at the end of this year.

Currently, Britain and the EU are involved in talks to reach a permanent trade deal to come into force when a transition period ends by Dec. 31 of 2020.

Asked by an MP on whether he "recognizes the inevitable" and will extend the post-Brexit transition period, Johnson said: "There is legislation in place and I have no intention of changing it."

ROME, March 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Italy on Wednesday reported nearly 500 new deaths from the novel coronavirus, the highest one-day official toll of any nation, as US Pres Donald Trump ordered sweeping new action against the pandemic and declared himself a war president.

With the number of global coronavirus infections shooting past 200,000, governments announced new containment measures and the US Congress approved a $100 billion emergency relief package.

MOSCOW, March 18. /TASS/: Veteran Russian adventurer Fyodor Konyukhov plans to sign a memorandum with the Russian Academy of Sciences on cooperation in exploring the World Ocean, his son and director general of the expedition mission Oskar Konyukhov said.

The first joint project will be scientific and technical assistance provided by the RAS Institute of Oceanology to Konyukhov, who seeks to cross the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans aboard a solar-powered catamaran called NOVA. Konyukhov earlier announced plans to attempt the first solo crossing in 2021-2022.

MOSCOW, March 18. /TASS/: The euro added 3.79% and reached the level of 86.05 rubles on the Moscow Exchange.

The dollar increased by 3.6% and reached 78.15 rubles.

The price of futures contract for Brent crude oil with May delivery reduced by 3.5% to $27.72 per barrel on London's ICE. WTI oil is lost 5.63% and reached $25.79 per barrel.

MOSCOW, March 18. /TASS/: Russia is building up a network of laboratories that make coronavirus tests, Russian presidential spokesman, Dmitry Peskov told the media on Wednesday, when asked why only one laboratory — research center Vector in Novosibirsk — was providing this service.

"There is more than one laboratory. Tests are already being made in several cities. The network of these labs is expanding steadily and quickly enough," Peskov said, adding that the anti-coronavirus center should be contacted for details.

MOSCOW, March 18. /TASS/: Research is well in progress into Russia’s fifth-generation submarines, the Navy’s commander-in-chief, Admiral Nikolai Yevmenov, told the Russian army daily Krasnaya Zvezda in an interview.

"Currently Russia is building fourth generation submarines, but we are obliged to look ahead. This is an imperative of our time and of progress in science and engineering that concerns the Navy’s development. It is common knowledge that research into fifth generation submarines is well underway. They are to boast far better parameters," Yevemnov promised.

MOSCOW, March 18. /TASS/: Russia’s budget in 2020 will be deficit, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said at a meeting of the board of the Federal Treasury.

"Of course, this year we will transfer to a deficit budget. We will have to use the resources of our reserve, the National Wealth Fund, this is the reason it was formed," he said.

MOSCOW, March 18. /TASS/: Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin has instructed the Transport Ministry to introduce temporary restrictions on flights to the UK, USA and the UAE from March 20. The document was published on the website of the Cabinet on Wednesday.

MOSCOW, March 18. /TASS/: Specialists will decide whether the epidemiological situation permits holding a nationwide vote on constitutional amendments on April 22, and it’s up to Russian President Vladimir Putin to make the final decision, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Wednesday.

"It’s obvious that this concerns an unfavorable development, and therefore if it turns out that participation in the vote will pose a threat to citizens’ health, then certainly, this is out of the question and a decision will be made on postponing the vote," Peskov said.