Author: admin
-
Moscow Calls on Iran to Treat Nuclear Deal With ‘Responsibility’
Russia’s Foreign Ministry on Wednesday called on Iran to show “maximum responsibility” in preserving a 2015 major nuclear deal with global powers. Earlier this week Iran announced that it intends to install advanced centrifuges in its main nuclear enrichment plant in Natanz, raising concerns from the governments of France, Germany and the UK. The European […]
-
Russian Cosmonauts to Receive Sputnik Virus Jab
The Russian space agency said on Wednesday it planned to offer the Sputnik coronavirus vaccine to cosmonauts but insisted that the vaccination would be done on a voluntary basis. Last week Russia launched its mass vaccination program using Sputnik V, which has been named after a Soviet-era satellite. Developers say it is 95 percent effective based on […]
-
Self-Isolation, Elections and Vibes: Google Ranks Top Russian-Language Searches of 2020
The Russian-language version of Google posted its end-of-year video summarizing its top searches and main events in 2020. Spoiler alert: it’s as depressing as you think. The search engine’s annual tradition took a dark turn this year with the Covid-19 pandemic, the war in Nagorno-Karabakh, the Arctic fuel spill in Norilsk, mass death of sea […]
-
Russia Signs Deal to Open Naval Base in Sudan
Russia has signed an agreement with Sudan to build a naval base on the country’s Red Sea coast, in Moscow’s latest push into Africa as it seeks to renew its geopolitical clout. The deal, published on the Russian government’s website Tuesday, will see Moscow establish a “logistical support center” in Port Sudan where “repairs and resupply […]
-
5 Chechens Arrested in France Over Teacher’s Beheading – Reports
Police in France have taken into custody five Chechens suspected of having been in contact with the Chechen refugee who beheaded a history teacher this fall, the French press reported Tuesday. At least 14 people are being prosecuted in connection with Samuel Paty’s killing, with five of them indicted for pointing out him out to 18-year-old […]
-
Russian Lawmakers Approve Lifetime Immunity for Ex-Presidents
Lawmakers in Russia’s lower house of parliament have voted to approve legislation that would give former presidents lifetime immunity from prosecution. The proposal is a part of a larger set of constitutional reforms announced by President Vladimir Putin which Russians approved in a nationwide vote this summer. Those reforms also include a provision that would […]
-
Russia Bans Imports of Tomatoes From Azerbaijan
Russia has announced a ban on imports of tomatoes from Azerbaijan beginning Thursday, in a damaging move for a key export that analysts tied to fallout from the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Agriculture watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor on Tuesday announced the embargo beginning December 10 to protect against harmful substances detected in several recent shipments. It said the ban […]
-
Denmark ‘Mistaken’ With Russian Spy Charges, Moscow Says
A Russian national’s arrest on suspicion of espionage in Denmark is a mistake, Russia’s Embassy in Copenhagen told Interfax on Wednesday. The unnamed Russian citizen is suspected of providing information about Danish energy technology to Russia’s intelligence service, Reuters quoted Danish public prosecutors earlier in the day. “The Russian Embassy in Denmark considers the arrest […]
-
Last Soviet Defense Minister Dies From Coronavirus – Reports
Yevgeny Shaposhnikov, the last Defense Minister of the Soviet Union and a Marshal of Aviation, has died at age 78, the state-run RIA Novosti news agency reported Tuesday. The state-run TASS news agency reported, citing unnamed medical sources, that Shaposhnikov had died as a result of Covid-19. According to the Mash Telegram channel, Shaposhnikov was […]
-
Endangered Seals Wash Up Dead on Russian Beach
A dozen dead endangered seals have been found washed up on the shores of the Caspian Sea in southern Russia. Footage shared from the republic of Dagestan last week showed Caspian seal carcasses lying motionless on the beach. Rescuer Ziyavdin Nikamogamedov said he had encountered at least 17 dead mammals in the dirty waters following […]
-
Yandex Launches Food Delivery Robots
Russia’s Yandex has started using its self-driving robot to deliver fast food orders, the company announced Wednesday. The small six-wheeled autonomous robot — dubbed Yandex Rover — has started delivering orders from Yandex’s food delivery service, Yandex Eats, to customers in one of Moscow’s central business districts. Just like a human courier, after an order […]
-
TVEL will introduce new fuel and extended fuel cycle at Kudankulam NPP in India
TVEL Fuel Company of ROSATOM and Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) have signed a supplement agreement to the fuel supply contract, aimed at the implementation of a comprehensive engineering project, including introduction of the new TVS-2M nuclear fuel and elongation of the fuel cycle from 12 to 18 months for both operating VVER-1000 […]
-
Rosneft Discovers Unique Gas Field in Kara Sea
The State Reserves Commission has acknowledged Rosneft Oil Company’s discovery of an Arctic gas field in the Kara Sea and has recommended the Russian Federal Geological Foundation (RosGeolFond) to put the field on the state register as per Rosneft’s estimates of 800 billion cubic metres of gas deposits.
-
NovaWind JSC starts supplying wind power to one of the PJSC SIBUR Holding production facilities
VetroSGC JSC (part of NovaWind, the ROSATOM division for wind power) and SiburEnergoManagement signed an agreement to supply power to BIAXPLEN Ltd. (part of PJSC SIBUR Holding) for BOPP film production facility in Novokuybyshevsk (Samara Region). Electricity will be supplied from the Adygeya Wind Farm. The task for the supplier and the consumer at this […]
-
6 Days Off Booze Is Enough for Russia’s Coronavirus Vaccine, Developer Says
Russia’s Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine only requires patients to avoid drinking alcohol for six days, not 42 as previously recommended, its developer said Wednesday. Health officials overseeing Russia’s Covid-19 response urged Sputnik V recipients earlier to abstain from alcohol for nearly two months while taking the two-shot vaccine. Alexander Gintsburg, who heads the state-run Gamaleya […]
-
Kremlin Condemns Attempts to Justify Chechen Beheading of French Teacher
The Kremlin has spoken out against attempts to justify the beheading of a French teacher by a Chechen refugee following a Chechen state television segment that cast the killer in a sympathetic light. Abdulakh Anzorov, 18, was shot dead by French police on Oct. 16 after decapitating history teacher Samuel Paty, who had displayed Prophet […]
-
Study Links Siberian Wildfires to Arctic Warming
Record-setting wildfires in far northeastern Russia in 2020 are linked to extreme weather changes in the warming Arctic, a report by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said Tuesday. Uncontrolled forest fires within the Arctic Circle have set records this year for both their cumulative number and the amount of CO2 emissions. The extent of […]
-
Russia’s Expanded Foreign Agents Bill Passes First Reading
Russian lawmakers on Tuesday passed in its first reading controversial draft legislation including an expansion of who can be labeled a “foreign agent” amid an unrelenting clampdown on dissent. Lawmakers in Russia’s lower-house State Duma last month tabled legislation that would give authorities sweeping powers to designate individuals as foreign agents and further limit public gatherings […]
-
St. Petersburg Eyes Virus Lockdown Amid Record Deaths
Russia’s second city St. Petersburg registered a record number of virus deaths on Tuesday as authorities warned of an imminent lockdown and shuttered restaurants for the New Year’s holidays. St. Petersburg — one of Russia’s most popular tourist destinations — is struggling with a major health crisis, with hospitals overwhelmed with coronavirus patients but residents flouting […]
-
No Alcohol for 2 Months, Russia Tells Coronavirus Vaccine Recipients
Recipients of Russia’s Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine should abstain from alcohol for nearly two months before and after immunization, the head of Russia’s consumer safety watchdog said Tuesday. Rospotrebnadzor head Anna Popova’s instructions follow Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova’s recommendations to avoid alcohol and immunosuppressants for 42 days because the two-shot vaccine is administered with […]
-
The Arctic Open Film Festival Goes Online
Held amid the Arkhangelsk region’s harsh Nordic landscapes, the annual Arctic Open is one of Russia’s least glamorous film festivals. It is also one of the few cinema events in the world dedicated to the unique culture of the Arctic peoples and intended to foster closer cooperation within the region’s artistic community. The open air […]
-
Coronavirus in Russia: The Latest News | Dec. 9
Russia has confirmed 2,515,009 cases of coronavirus and 44,159 deaths. Dec. 9: What you need to know today Russia confirmed 26,097 coronavirus cases and 562 deaths Tuesday. More than 50% of Russia’s medics have no plans to vaccinate against the coronavirus, according to the result of the Russian Federation Medics Network poll published by VTimes Monday. Over 21% percent […]
-
In Photos: Russia Rolls Out Sputnik Vaccine
Russia has launched a mass vaccination campaign against the coronavirus with its own vaccine, putting doctors, social workers and teachers in the top priority group. The Sputnik V vaccine’s developers have said the jab is 95% effective based on interim data from its Phase 3 clinical trials, which are still underway as the large-scale vaccination […]
-
Putin Signs Constitutional Reforms on State Council, Secession, Russian Law
President Vladimir Putin has signed bills into law elevating a low-profile advisory body known as the State Council, criminalizing secession and prioritizing the Russian Constitution over international law. Putin approved the set of laws on Tuesday, 160 days after Russian voters overwhelmingly approved constitutional reforms that pave the way for him to extend his 20-year […]
-
Russia’s Arctic Temperatures Hit New Records in December
As climate experts sound the alarm over record temperatures in Russia’s Arctic, the Christmas season is unlikely to be much different than the preceding months. According to Russian meteorological service Roshydromet, the extraordinary Arctic heat of November was followed by temperature records in a number of places across the Russian north on the first day of […]
-
U.S. Adds Russia to Religious Freedom Violators Watchlist
The United States has added Russia to its special watchlist of countries that have engaged in or tolerated “severe violations” of religious freedom, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement Monday. Russia appears on the U.S. watchlist alongside Comoros, Cuba and Nicaragua. It’s not the first time the U.S. has raised concerns over […]
-
Rosneft Commences Industrial Use of Unique In-House Hydrotreatment Catalyst
Rosneft Oil Company has commenced the industrial use of an in-house hydrotreatment catalyst.
-
Putin, Merkel Discuss Navalny’s Poisoning – Berlin
Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel discussed the poisoning of Russia’s main opposition figure Alexei Navalny in a phone conversation Monday, a German cabinet representative told the state-run TASS news agency. Navalny has recovered in Berlin after being poisoned with what Western governments say was the deadly Soviet-era nerve agent Novichok in […]
-
Non-Priority Groups Vaccinated for Coronavirus in Moscow – Reports
Moscow clinics are distributing coronavirus vaccines to anyone who registers without giving priority to high-risk groups in contradiction to officials’ orders, the Meduza news website reported Tuesday. Moscow kick-started Russia’s nationwide vaccination drive over the weekend, with Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reporting that 2,000 volunteers have so far received the first of two Sputnik V jabs […]
-
Russian Sentenced to Jail in France for Money Laundering
A French court on Monday sentenced a Russian to five years in prison for money laundering, but cleared him of an original charge of defrauding nearly 200 people using ransomware. Prosecutors had said that Alexander Vinnik sent emails to his targets masquerading as invoices, whose attached document, when opened, activated malware that shut down the […]
-
Russia Bolsters Military Forces in Baltic Exclave Amid NATO Fears
Russia is looking to expand its military power in Kaliningrad by adding a new division that includes motorized rifle, artillery and tank regiments amid NATO buildup along the border with Russia’s Baltic exclave, a naval admiral said Monday. Admiral Alexander Nosatov, the commander of Russia’s Baltic Fleet, accused the Western military bloc of deploying an […]
-
Turkey Court Orders Release of Russian Reporters – Official
A Turkish court on Monday ordered the release of two Russian journalists detained in Istanbul after they were accused of filming near a facility manufacturing drones without authorization, an official said. Journalist Alexei Petrushko and cameraman Ivan Malyshkin from Kremlin-friendly NTV channel were arrested by police in Istanbul on Thursday morning. A Turkish foreign ministry […]
-
Estonia Builds Barbed Wire Fence on Russian Border – Reports
Estonia has installed a barbed-wire fence along an 8-kilometer section of its border with Russia in the first installment of its three-year border infrastructure project, media in the Baltic country reported Monday. Estonia began construction of border infrastructure stretching 23.5 kilometers from the Estonian-Latvian-Russian meeting point to the Luhamaa border crossing further north in July. In […]
-
Novokuibyshevsk Refinery Implements Pilot Project of Smart Safety Helmets
Specialists of the Novokuibyshevsk refinery, an enterprise of Rosneft Oil Company’s Samara refining complex, jointly with Rostelecom PJSC have performed pilot tests for the introduction of smart safety helmets–pieces of digital personal protective equipment–at the sites.
-
Putin’s Ex-Son-in-Law Bought $380M Stake in Petrochemicals Giant for $100 – Investigation
President Vladimir Putin’s former son-in-law purchased $380 million worth of shares in Russia’s top petrochemicals company for $100 after marrying the president’s daughter, according to a report by the iStories investigative outlet. Kirill Shamalov acquired 3.8% of petrochemicals producer Sibur through a web of offshore companies months after marrying Katerina Tikhonova in February 2013, iStories reported, […]
-
Russia Urges Release of Reporters Detained in Turkey
President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman said on Monday the Kremlin hopes that two Russian journalists detained in Turkey will be released as soon as possible. Dmitry Peskov told reporters Russian diplomats were in contact with Turkish representatives to secure the release of two journalists working with Kremlin-friendly NTV channel “in the near future.” “We hope through […]
-
‘Cabaret Terezin’: Making Merry at Hell’s Gates
They did their best to keep spirits up by doing what they did before it happened, by writing music, singing, and dancing. By parodying their circumstances in lighthearted tunes, they could perhaps forget for a moment the death all around them. They were the prisoners in Theresienstadt, a concentration camp in Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia, who organized […]
-
Don’t Perform Exorcisms at Home, Russian Orthodox Church Warns
The Russian Orthodox Church has warned worshippers against performing exorcisms at home, saying that casting out demons should be left to members of the clergy. Metropolitan Hilarion, who heads the church’s Department of External Relations, made the comments in reaction to a viral video showing parents attempting to expel a demon from their 10-year-old son […]
-
Russia Blames ‘Revisionist’ U.S. for Disputed Islanders’ Visas
The United States exercises World War II “revisionism” by classifying Russian visa-seekers born on a disputed island chain in the Far East as Japanese nationals, Russia’s Foreign Ministry said Sunday. Russians born on the islands of Habomai, Shikotan, Kunashiri and Etorofu have been required to name Japan as their birthplace to receive permanent residency known […]
-
Putin Creates New Position for Chubais
Anatoly Chubais has been named President Vladimir Putin’s new point man on sustainable development and coordination with international organizations after stepping down as Rusnano CEO last week. “Anatoly Borisovich Chubais will be appointed as special representative to the President of the Russian Federation for relations with international organizations to achieve sustainable development goals,” said the […]
-
Russia Suggests Domestic Travel Ban to Slow Coronavirus
Update: Murashko’s words on restricting travel between regions were taken out of context and he had only been discussing travel restrictions in a general sense, a Health Ministry official told the RBC news website. “The Russian Health Ministry does not propose the introduction of any additional restrictions on the movement of citizens across the territory of […]
-
Belarus Opposition Rallies in Scattered Protests
Opposition protesters in Belarus rallied Sunday in the latest of nearly four months of demonstrations against the re-election of President Alexander Lukashenko. Social media videos showed small groups of protesters gathered in courtyards as others marched through the capital Minsk with the opposition red and white flags. In contrast to mass Sunday protests that have […]
-
Coronavirus in Russia: The Latest News | Dec. 7
Russia has confirmed 2,460,770 cases of coronavirus and 43,141 deaths. Dec. 7: What you need to know today Russia confirmed a new record of 29,039 coronavirus cases and 457 deaths Sunday. The maximum price of Russia’s Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine will be set at 1,942 rubles ($26), the state-run Interfax news agency reported Saturday, citing a top health official. Russian […]
-
U.S. Calls for ‘Moratorium’ on Nord Stream 2 Pipeline — Report
The United States is asking Germany and the EU to halt construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline linking Russia to Europe, which Washington sees as a “political tool” of the Kremlin, a top envoy said in a German newspaper interview on Saturday. “Now is the time for Germany and the EU to impose […]
-
Moscow Starts Inoculating Vulnerable Workers Against Coronavirus
Moscow on Saturday began vaccinating workers at high risk of becoming infected with the coronavirus at newly opened clinics across the city. Health officials said they had opened 70 coronavirus vaccine centers in the Russian capital that would initially offer jabs for health, education and social workers. “Citizens from the main risk groups who in […]
-
Explore the Wonders of “Red Sands” With Caroline Eden
Caroline Eden has made a name for herself by exploring roads less traveled, such as the Black Sea littoral, the subject of her eponymous previous book. In “Red Sands: Reportage and Recipes Through Central Asia, from Hinterland to Heartland,” she trains her considerable skills as a keen observer and evocative writer on the Central Asian […]
-
Who’s Afraid of Jennifer Psaki?
This week’s news that U.S. President-elect Joe Biden had chosen Jennifer Psaki as his administration’s press secretary sparked a flurry of excitement on Russian state media and social media alike. “We are looking forward to Jen’s return,” said Vladimir Solovyev, a controversial host on the state-run Rossia 1 broadcaster and one of Russia’s main spin […]
-
Coronavirus in Russia: The Latest News | Dec. 5
Russia has confirmed 2,402,949 cases of coronavirus and 42,176 deaths. Dec. 5: What you need to know today Russia confirmed 27,403 coronavirus cases and 569 deaths Friday. Kazakhstan will start producing Russia’s Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine from Dec. 22, the country’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said Friday. Ukraine won’t be purchasing Russia’s coronavirus vaccine due to its questionable efficacy, Ukraine’s […]
-
5K Moscow Teachers, Doctors Sign Up for Coronavirus Vaccination on First Day
Moscow’s teachers, doctors and social workers are signing up at a rate of 1,000 per hour for the Russian capital’s coronavirus vaccination drive that kicks off Saturday, Mayor Sergei Sobyanin has said. Online vaccination bookings for high-risk groups opened in the Russian capital Friday after President Vladimir Putin ordered large-scale nationwide immunization — hours after […]
-
ROSATOM discussed how to achieve SDGs during Global Impact Conference 2020 “Energy of Impact”
On 1-2 December the first online Global Impact Conference 2020 “Energy for Impact” was organized in partnership with ROSATOM, the Higher School of Economics and Forbes. The event brought together over 85 experts from 26 countries, representing global corporations, state institutions and NGOs. Conference participants discussed new partnerships with a view to develop human capital […]
-
Russia’s Mixed Censorship Model Is a Boon for Online Activism
The rapid spread of mobile internet around the world over the last decade has directly contributed to falling levels of trust in government and a surge in populism, according to a recent paper by a group of Russian economists. The research shows that as 3G internet spreads, millions of people gain access to new sources […]
-
Russia Suffers New Blow in $50Bln Yukos Case
The Netherlands’ top court ruled Friday that shareholders in dismantled oil giant Yukos can continue to pursue Russia for $50 billion (41 billion euros) in compensation pending a final judgement in a long legal saga. Russia was ordered to make the payout in 2014 by the Hague-based international Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), but has […]
-
Kazakhstan to Launch Production of Russian Vaccine
President Vladimir Putin has called on Moscow’s allies to mass produce the country’s vaccines. In a statement on Friday, Kazakhstan’s presidency said the country would begin producing Sputnik V from Dec. 22, with plans to begin inoculating vulnerable groups in early 2021. The developers of Sputnik V — named after the Soviet-era satellite — have […]
-
Moscow Non/Fiction Book Fair Goes Online with Belarusian Nobel Prize Winner Aleksievich
The traditional format of the international book fair Non/Fiction was postponed until next spring due to the Covid-19 pandemic. But to keep the reading public happy, the organizers are moving their meetings with famous authors online this and next weekend. On Dec. 5,6, 12 and 13 anyone can tune in to hear discussions with such […]
-
Russia Eyes ‘Prison-Free’ Cities
Russian authorities have said they want to relocate all prisons out of major cities, sparking concerns from activists that the move could violate prisoners’ rights and complicate visits by lawyers and relatives. Justice Minister Konstantin Chuichenko told state television that the mass prison relocation is part of the Federal Prison Service’s “transformation” toward “effective and […]
-
1 Dead in Ukraine-Russia Border Shootout – FSB
One person has been killed in a shootout that took place after three armed men tried to illegally cross the border from Ukraine to Russia, Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) said Friday. Russian border patrol officers opened fire on the Ukrainians after they resisted arrest at the border near Belgorod, the state-run TASS news agency […]
-
First session of the Board for Sustainable Business Development, Corporate Social Responsibility and Voluntary Service of TPP of Russia was held
On December 2, the first session of the Board for Sustainable Business Development, Corporate Social Responsibility and Voluntary Service of the Trade and Commerce Chamber of Russia (TPP of Russia) was held. The event was on-line in the frame of the international forum Global Impact Conference 2020. The Board included representatives of large businesses, governmental […]
-
NovaWind JSC wins a contract for 192,5 MW capacity as part of investment project selection
NovaWind JSC (ROSATOM division for wind power) wins a contract for 192,5 MW capacity as part of investment project selection. This project selection was final under the first RES Capacity Supply Agreement program. The VetroSGC-2 applications totalling 192,5 MW (VetroSGC-2 JSC is part of NovaWind JSC) were selected under the investment project tender for the […]
-
Russia to Debut ‘Flight to Nowhere’
Russia’s Pobeda low-cost airline plans to debut its own “flight to nowhere” for cooped-up passengers looking to recreate the travel experience this month, popular Pobeda pilot and flight podcast host Alexei Kochemasov has said. Passengers will take off from Moscow’s Vnukovo International Airport, then land 1.5 hours later at… Vnukovo Airport. “We guarantee the crew’s […]
-
Russian Schoolgirl’s Art Picked for J.K. Rowling’s ‘The Ickabog’
A young Russian artist has won the illustration contest for J.K. Rowling’s first post-Harry Potter children’s book, “The Ickabog.” Artwork by Yevdokiya “Dunya” Obolenskaya, 11, is among 34 original illustrations chosen out of 42,000 submissions from around the world for Rowling’s latest book published earlier in November. “Mama had received a text message close to […]