themoscowtimes--2020-08-12--Arctic Warming Faster Than Previously Thought – Study

The latest study says that temperatures rose by 1 degree Celsius every decade over the past 40 years in the Arctic Ocean between Russia , Canada and Europe .
In areas between Russia and Norway , temperatures increased by 1.5 degrees every decade over the past 40 years .
The Arctic is warming significantly faster than current climate models account for , fueling extreme heat and the abrupt disappearance of sea ice across the region , a new study by the University of Copenhagen has said .
“ We have been clearly underestimating the rate of temperature increases in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” said University of Copenhagen professor Jens Hesselbjerg Christensen , one of the study ’ s researchers .
That increase , he said , “ has ultimately caused sea ice to disappear faster than we had anticipated.
” Arctic sea ice recovery slowed to record levels in 2019 — the second-hottest year on Earth — after bottoming out that summer , according to research .
Previous studies have said that the Arctic has warmed by 0.75 degrees Celsius in the past decade .
Those studies predicted the total disappearance of ice in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Changes are occurring so rapidly during the summer months that sea ice is likely to disappear faster than most climate models have ever predicted , ” Christensen said in the latest study .
Russia is warming 2.5 times faster than the rest of the world due to its vast Arctic territories .
The Russian Arctic set “ fantastical ” heat records in June due to climate change , with abnormal tundra fires and rapid permafrost melt seen across the region , the head of Russia 's weather service has said .

The latest study says that temperatures rose by 1 degree Celsius every decade over the past 40 years in the Arctic Ocean between Russia, Canada and Europe. In areas between Russia and Norway, temperatures increased by 1.5 degrees every decade over the past 40 years.
The Arctic is warming significantly faster than current climate models account for, fueling extreme heat and the abrupt disappearance of sea ice across the region, a new study by the University of Copenhagen has said .
“We have been clearly underestimating the rate of temperature increases in the atmosphere nearest to the sea level,” said University of Copenhagen professor Jens Hesselbjerg Christensen, one of the study’s researchers.
That increase, he said, “has ultimately caused sea ice to disappear faster than we had anticipated.”
Arctic sea ice recovery slowed to record levels in 2019 — the second-hottest year on Earth — after bottoming out that summer, according to research.
Previous studies have said that the Arctic has warmed by 0.75 degrees Celsius in the past decade. Those studies predicted the total disappearance of ice in the Arctic Ocean within 20 years.
“Changes are occurring so rapidly during the summer months that sea ice is likely to disappear faster than most climate models have ever predicted,” Christensen said in the latest study.
Russia is warming 2.5 times faster than the rest of the world due to its vast Arctic territories.
The Russian Arctic set “fantastical” heat records in June due to climate change, with abnormal tundra fires and rapid permafrost melt seen across the region, the head of Russia's weather service has said.


themoscowtimes--2020-08-12--Belarus Confirms Protester's Death Amid Violent Crackdown on Unrest

Belarus on Wednesday confirmed the death of a jailed protester after police violently cracked down on demonstrations over disputed presidential polls .
The riot police have arrested thousands in street clashes across the country after long-serving leader Alexander Lukashenko claimed a landslide victory in Sunday polls .
The strongman 's opponents accuse him of rigging the election where his main rival was a massively popular opposition candidate , Svetlana Tikhanovskaya .
The Belarusian Investigative Committee said in a statement that a 25-year-old man died after he was detained on Sunday in the southeastern city of Gomel and sentenced to 10 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ illegal protests .
Investigators said the cause of death was unclear , while Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty earlier quoted the man 's mother as saying he had heart problems and was held for hours in a police van .
Previously police said one protester died when an explosive device went off in his hand on Monday .
The latest death came as opposition protesters took to the streets to condemn police violence .
In Minsk , several hundred women joined hands to form a human chain , many wearing white and holding flowers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up people , brutally beating them , and all we can do is come out for such a peaceful protest , '' said one protester , 29-year-old Darya , who works in advertising .
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet accused Belarus of deploying `` unnecessary and excessive force . ''
French President Emmanuel Macron said he was `` very worried '' by the violence while US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo urged the European Union to `` take action , '' saying : `` We want the people of Belarus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demanding . ''
EU foreign ministers are set to discuss Belarus at an extraordinary meeting on Friday .
Lukashenko on Wednesday dismissed the demonstrators as `` people with a criminal past who are now unemployed '' and told them to get jobs .
State television aired footage of detained young protesters with bloodied and bruised faces being asked if they wanted a `` revolution . ''
Police on Wednesday evening readied for fresh protests , preventing pedestrians and vehicles entering central streets in Minsk while metro stations were closed , AFP journalists said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Lukashenko , who has been in power since 1994 , won 80 % of the vote in Sunday 's polls .
Tuesday night saw smaller numbers on the streets than on previous days , after police cordoned off city centres and limited transport .
The interior ministry said protesters gathered in 25 cities and towns around the country and that more than 1,000 people were detained .
That brought the number of detentions to more than 6,000 after three days of protests .
In Minsk , protesters and witnesses said riot police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ various suburbs , firing stun grenades and rubber bullets .
Police acknowledged opening fire on demonstrators and wounding one in the southwestern city of Brest on the Polish border .
They said the protesters were armed with metal bars and ignored warning shots .
The protest movement arose in support of Tikhanovskaya , a 37-year-old political novice who ran for president after potential opposition candidates including her husband were jailed .
The official results gave her 10 % of the popular vote but Tikhanovskaya said the election was rigged and claimed victory , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She left Belarus for neighboring Lithuania on Tuesday as allies said she came under official pressure .
Tikhanovskaya `` is recovering from this stress ... and feels better , '' Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius told Russia 's Echo of Moscow radio station .
`` She herself will say what her future plans are . ''
Protesters said Tuesday night 's crackdown in Minsk was especially violent , with videos released on social media showing police kicking protesters lying prone on the ground , smashing cars with truncheons and assaulting passers-by .
Oleg @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Helsinki Committee rights group , said he was `` stunned by the unprecedented level of cruelty and violence '' used against protesters .
`` Last night was the scariest night in Belarus 's modern history , '' he said .
On Wednesday , hundreds of people gathered outside a pre-trial detention center in Minsk in an effort to learn about the fate of missing family members .
One woman , 25-year-old Viktoria , wept as she said that police had grabbed her husband on the street .
`` He just had time to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grabbed his arms , twisted them behind his back and took him to a police van , '' she said .

Riot police have roughly detained thousands at street protests across the country after long-serving leader Alexander Lukashenko claimed a landslide victory in Sunday's poll.
Belarus on Wednesday confirmed the death of a jailed protester as demonstrators took to the streets for a fourth night of clashes with riot police over a disputed presidential election.
The strongman's opponents accuse him of rigging the election against his main rival, massively popular opposition candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya.
The Belarusian Investigative Committee said in a statement that a 25-year-old man died after he was detained on Sunday for taking part in illegal protests in the southeastern city of Gomel and sentenced to 10 days in prison.
Investigators said the cause of death was unclear, while Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty quoted the man's mother as saying he had heart problems and was held for hours in a police van.
She said her son, Alexander Vikhor, was not taking part in protests and had gone to meet his girlfriend.
Previously police said one protester died when an explosive device went off in his hand on Monday.
The latest death came as opposition protesters took to the streets to condemn police violence.
In the capital Minsk, several hundred women joined hands to form a human chain, many wearing white and holding flowers.
"The riot police are beating up people, brutally beating them, and all we can do is come out for such a peaceful protest," said 29-year-old protester Darya, who works in advertising.
'Leave before it's too late'
On Wednesday evening, Minsk saw scattered protests in suburbs, with flag-waving opposition supporters blocking roads. A tight police cordon surrounded the city centre while metro stations were closed.
Riot police used rubber bullets and stun grenades to break up protests. They also patrolled residential areas, firing at vehicles and grabbing people hiding inside the entrances of blocks of flats, local media reported.
Belarusian writer Svetlana Alexievich, winner of the 2015 Nobel Literature Prize, condemned the police violence and urged Lukashenko to go peacefully in her first interview since the protests broke out.
"Leave before it's too late, before you've thrown people into a terrible abyss, into the abyss of civil war," she told her long-term foe in an interview with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.


themoscowtimes--2020-08-12--France 'Very Worried' Over Belarus Election Violence, Macron Tells Putin

Macron told Putin he is `` very worried about the situation in Belarus and the violence that citizens have faced during the elections , '' the Elysee said in a statement .
France is very worried by the violence in Belarus after the weekend 's elections in the ex-Soviet state , French President Emmanuel Macron said in telephone talks with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Wednesday .
`` He emphasized the need to find again the path of dialogue . ''
The talks , which also touched on the coronavirus crisis and the situation in Lebanon after the gigantic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ latest in a string of regular contacts between Macron and Putin .
In a position that has sometimes put him at odds with EU allies , Macron has pursued a policy of dialogue with Russia , even on issues where the two sides disagree .
Protesters in Belarus have rallied on successive nights to contest strongman President Alexander Lukashenko 's claim of having won Sunday 's election in a landslide .
The EU and U.S. have strongly condemned the ensuing crackdown that has seen hundreds detained in often brutal circumstances .
Putin , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was one of the few key world leaders to congratulate Lukashenko after the poll .

Macron told Putin he is "very worried about the situation in Belarus and the violence that citizens have faced during the elections," the Elysee said in a statement.
France is very worried by the violence in Belarus after the weekend's elections in the ex-Soviet state, French President Emmanuel Macron said in telephone talks with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Wednesday.
"He emphasized the need to find again the path of dialogue."
The talks, which also touched on the coronavirus crisis and the situation in Lebanon after the gigantic port explosion last week, were the latest in a string of regular contacts between Macron and Putin.
In a position that has sometimes put him at odds with EU allies, Macron has pursued a policy of dialogue with Russia, even on issues where the two sides disagree.
Protesters in Belarus have rallied on successive nights to contest strongman President Alexander Lukashenko's claim of having won Sunday's election in a landslide.
The EU and U.S. have strongly condemned the ensuing crackdown that has seen hundreds detained in often brutal circumstances.
Putin, along with Chinese President Xi Jinping, was one of the few key world leaders to congratulate Lukashenko after the poll.


themoscowtimes--2020-08-12--Belarus: Days of Post-Election Turmoil

Belarus: Days of Post-Election Turmoil

A crushing re-election victory for Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko followed by anti-government protests , violent police repression and the opposition challenger taking refuge in Lithuania — here is a recap of the dramatic events in the ex-Soviet country since Sunday .
On Aug. 9 , 2020 , Lukashenko , 65 , who has ruled Belarus with an iron fist since 1994 , runs for a sixth term in presidential elections .
His main rival is the 37-year-old political novice Svetlana Tikhanovskaya , who decided to run for president after her blogger husband Sergei Tikhanovsky was jailed and barred from contesting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exit poll declares Lukashenko the victor .
Tikhanovskaya rejects the results .
Anti-government protests break out that are violently repressed by police , leading to some 3,000 arrests and dozens of injuries .
The next day , the first official results give victory to Lukashenko with roughly 80 % of votes , far ahead of Tikhanovskaya , with some 10 % .
Tikhanovskaya claims victory and calls on Lukashenko to step down .
Russia , China and Venezuela welcome Lukashenko 's re-election , but other countries and the European Union question the fairness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on protests .
For a second night , demonstrators clash with police in Minsk and other cities , leading to some 2,000 arrests .
One man dies when an explosive device goes off in his hand , police say , confirming the first fatality of the post-election protests .
On Aug. 11 a distressed-looking Tikhanovskaya says she has made a `` difficult decision '' to leave her country for Lithuania .
She indicates she is leaving Belarus to be with her two children , who had earlier been taken out of the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state media releases a video showing Tikhanovskaya urging supporters not to protest , but her allies say it was recorded under pressure .
The European Union threatens to reimpose tough sanctions on Belarus .
Fresh protests take place overnight Tuesday to Wednesday , again harshly repressed but authorities say there are fewer demonstrators .
About 1,000 people are arrested .
The interior ministry says police in the southwestern city of Brest used firearms against a group of protesters and that one was wounded , in what is the first time authorities confirm the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Several hundred women , many wearing white and holding flowers , join hands to form a human chain in central Minsk urging an end to police violence .
European Union foreign ministers are set to hold an extraordinary meeting on Friday to review the situation in the ex-Soviet country .

A crushing re-election victory for Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko in disputed polls followed by anti-government protests seeking to oust him, here is a recap of a week of drama in the ex-Soviet country.
Vote sparks violence
On Aug. 9, 2020, Lukashenko, 65, who has ruled Belarus with an iron fist since 1994, runs for a sixth term in presidential elections.
His main rival is the 37-year-old political novice Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, who decided to run for president after her blogger husband Sergei Tikhanovsky was jailed and barred from contesting.
That night, an official exit poll declares Lukashenko the victor. Tikhanovskaya rejects the results.
Anti-government protests break out that are violently repressed by police, leading to some 3,000 arrests and dozens of injuries.
First death
The next day, the first official results give victory to Lukashenko with 80% of votes, far ahead of Tikhanovskaya with 10%.
Tikhanovskaya claims victory and calls on Lukashenko to step down.
Russia, China and Venezuela welcome Lukashenko's re-election, but other countries and the European Union question the fairness of the vote and condemn the crackdown on protests.
For a second night, demonstrators clash with police in Minsk and other cities, leading to some 2,000 arrests.
One man dies when an explosive device goes off in his hand, police say, confirming the first fatality of the post-election protests.
Refuge in Lithuania
On Aug. 11 a distressed-looking Tikhanovskaya says she has made a "difficult decision" to leave her country for Lithuania.
In Minsk, state media releases a video showing Tikhanovskaya urging supporters not to protest, but her allies say it was recorded under pressure.
Second death
Fresh protests take place overnight, again harshly repressed. About 1,000 people are arrested.
The interior ministry on Aug. 12 says police in the city of Brest used firearms against a group of protesters.
Several hundred women, many wearing white and holding flowers, join hands to form a human chain in central Minsk urging an end to police violence.
Officials confirm a second death in the unrest. They say a 25-year-old man died after he was detained on Aug. 9 for taking part in illegal protests and sentenced to 10 days in prison.
On Aug. 13, after a fourth night of unrest, authorities say they have made 700 fresh arrests.
The human chain grows.
Russia accuses outside forces of attempting to destabilize Belarus.
Torture
Witness accounts of the torture of jailed protesters spread.
On the 14th, Tikhanovskaya calls for "peaceful" protests in all cities at the weekend.
Workers in several factories walk off the job.
Lukashenko accuses Poland, the Netherlands, Ukraine and Russian opposition figures of being behind the protests.
At a meeting in Brussels the European Union approves sanctions against those involved in the repression and electoral fraud.
Historic demo
On the 15th, Lukashenko says that his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin has promised to help maintain security.
On the 16th, tens of thousands of people gather in Minsk, in what is the biggest ever opposition rally in the history of the country.
Lukashenko rejects calls to organize a new election.
He tells workers at the Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant (MZKT) that he is ready to transfer powers under a new constitution within one or two years.
Later in the day, he adds that new presidential elections, one of the key opposition demands, will be held after Belarus adopts a new constitution.
The authorities announce the liberation of more than 2,000 of the 6,700 people arrested up to Aug. 13.
Tikhanovskaya says in a video from exile in Lithuania she is ready to take over the country's leadership. The opposition calls a strike.
Britain, among others, says it does not accept the results of the election and intends to sanction those responsible for the repression.
The European Union announces a summit for Wednesday.


themoscowtimes--2020-08-12--‘Angel Investor’ Detained in Belarus Election Unrest

A prominent IT investor has been detained under unclear circumstances amid a crackdown on post-election protests in Belarus this week @ @ @ @ @ where he is a member announced Tuesday .
Belarusian authorities said more than 6,000 people @ @ @ @ @ nights of protests after election officials declared strongman Alexander Lukashenko the winner of Sunday ’ @ @ @ @ @ showed riot police firing rubber bullets and stun grenades against demonstrators .

A prominent IT investor has been detained under unclear circumstances amid a crackdown on post-election protests in Belarus this week, an international business club where he is a member announced Tuesday.
Belarusian authorities said more than 6,000 people have been detained over three nights of protests after election officials declared strongman Alexander Lukashenko the winner of Sunday’s vote. Eyewitness footage showed riot police firing rubber bullets and stun grenades against demonstrators.


themoscowtimes--2020-08-12--Dozens of Journalists Attacked or Detained Amid Violent Belarus Crackdown

The Belarusian interior ministry said more than 6,000 protesters have been detained during the three nights of post-election unrest and around 250 sought medical assistance .
Scores of journalists have been assaulted or detained by security officers in Belarus while covering protests against the country 's contested election , the Belarusian Association of Journalists said Wednesday .
Here ’ s a breakdown of how many journalists have been targeted , as compiled by the Rory Peck Trust , an NGO that supports freelance journalists in crisis : — Three journalists injured , including one wounded in the leg by a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by a projectile .
The Belarusian Association of Journalists said it has documented at least 62 instances of attacks on or detentions of colleagues since Sunday .
“ This is a gross violation of the freedom of speech and transparency of the election process , ” it said in a statement , calling on the authorities to identify those responsible and hold them accountable .
Several Russian journalists were among those attacked or detained during the post-election protests in Belarus .
A number of them have since been released and sent back to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Since the start of 2020 , more than 170 journalists have been jailed or fined in Belarus , the Belarusian Association of Journalists said .

The Belarusian interior ministry said more than 6,000 protesters have been detained during the three nights of post-election unrest and around 250 sought medical assistance.
Scores of journalists have been assaulted or detained by security officers in Belarus while covering protests against the country's contested election, the Belarusian Association of Journalists said Wednesday.
Here’s a breakdown of how many journalists have been targeted, as compiled by the Rory Peck Trust, an NGO that supports freelance journalists in crisis:
— 55 arrested journalists,
— 25 journalists in custody awaiting trial,
— 17 journalists violently assaulted,
— 10 damaged cameras and seized memory cards,
— Three journalists injured, including one wounded in the leg by a rubber bullet and one in the thigh by a projectile.
The Belarusian Association of Journalists said it has documented at least 62 instances of attacks on or detentions of colleagues since Sunday.
“This is a gross violation of the freedom of speech and transparency of the election process,” it said in a statement, calling on the authorities to identify those responsible and hold them accountable.
Several Russian journalists were among those attacked or detained during the post-election protests in Belarus. A number of them have since been released and sent back to Russia while some still remain unaccounted for.
Since the start of 2020, more than 170 journalists have been jailed or fined in Belarus, the Belarusian Association of Journalists said.


themoscowtimes--2020-08-13--Thousands Form Human Chains in Minsk Against Police Violence

Thousands of Belarusians formed human chains in the capital Minsk on Thursday in a peaceful wave of demonstrations over the harsh police crackdown following a disputed weekend election .
For the second day in a row , groups of women dressed in white and holding flowers held hands , joined by men , following four nights of unrest after strongman Alexander Lukashenko claimed a landslide win in Sunday 's presidential poll .
This form of peaceful protest was seen in the Baltic states during the breakup of the Soviet Union .
Demonstrators stood in the historic center of Minsk with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` We 're not the enemy . ''
`` I 'm standing here because we urgently need to stop the violence .
To end torture in prisons and free all those arrested .
We need honest elections , we need changes , '' said 41-year-old teacher Irina .
Maria , a 35-year-old sales assistant , said she came out in her lunch break .
`` We want people to be able to protest peacefully , after all they did n't want anything bad , just a fair count of the votes . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the central October Square , an AFP journalist saw .
Lukashenko claimed 80 % of the votewhile his popular challenger , Svetlana Tikhanovskaya , won just 10 % , according to the official count which was carried out without international observers .
Tikhanovskaya 's bid for president sparked a popular movement across the country with thousands attending packed rallies and standing in line to vote .
She particularly appealed to women by campaigning with two other women , the wife and campaign chief of candidates who were barred from standing .

Several thousand men and women, many wearing white and holding flowers and balloons, held hands and walked through the capital Minsk to protest against police brutality during four nights of unrest since Sunday's vote.
Russia claimed the protests were being orchestrated from abroad to destabilize its ex-Soviet neighbor while European countries condemned police violence and backed fresh sanctions against Lukashenko.
Thousands of protesters formed human chains in Belarus on Thursday in a growing wave of peaceful demonstrations over President Alexander Lukashenko's disputed re-election and an ensuing brutal police crackdown.
Women in Minsk have formed human chains in solidarity with protesters detained and beaten by the police. pic.twitter.com/r0wS01othC
The mood was more relaxed than on previous days as protesters strolled along a central street and lined main roads with drivers honking horns in support.
Supporters gave out free hot drinks and biscuits and police kept a low profile.
Similar human chains formed in half a dozen other cities, local media reported, while activists called for further protests at night.
Lukashenko's opponents accuse him of rigging the election to defeat his main rival, popular opposition candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, who has left the ex-Soviet country for neighbouring Lithuania.
People came out to contest the vote results and police used stun grenades, rubber bullets, tear gas, water cannon and, in at least one case, live fire to disperse the crowds.
At least two people have died and hundreds have been wounded in the violence while nearly 7,000 have been arrested.
'Change!'
On Thursday, demonstrators held placards reading "Change!" and "No violence" and wore white bracelets, one of the symbols of the opposition movement.
"We want to show that we, the women of our country, are against violence," said Yekaterina, a 38-year-old hairdresser wearing a white sweater and jacket and holding a bunch of white flowers.
Maria, a 35-year-old sales assistant, said she came out in her lunch break.
"We want people to be able to protest peacefully, after all they didn't want anything bad, just a fair count of the votes."
A religious procession of various Christian denominations also took place in Minsk while workers at a several factories reportedly held strikes.
'What can we do to help?'
Russia's Foreign Ministry on Thursday denounced what it called "clear attempts at outside interference" aiming to destabilize its neighbour.
It said it was "concerned" at the "violations of public order."
The leaders of neighboring Poland and the Baltic states urged Lukashenko to "terminate the use of force against your people immediately."
European Union foreign ministers are set to discuss possible new sanctions on Belarus at an extraordinary meeting on Friday.
"What can we do to help?" US entrepreneur Elon Musk said on Twitter in response to a call to help Belarusians.
Prominent Belarusians including Nobel Prize-winning author Svetlana Alexievich have condemned the violence and urged Lukashenko, who has ruled Belarus with an iron grip since 1994, to step down.
The interior ministry said it arrested 700 people at protests on Wednesday, bringing the total number detained since Sunday to more than 6,700.
After large-scale gatherings in Minsk and other cities on Sunday, the protests have become scattered and smaller as police cordoned off city centres and shut down public transport.
'Inhumane actions'
The Interior Ministry said Wednesday that police opened fire on a group of protesters armed with metal rods in the southwestern city of Brest, wounding one.
Officials also confirmed a second death in the unrest, after police said one protester died on Monday when an explosive device went off in his hand.


themoscowtimes--2020-08-13--Masked Men Raid Uber and Yandex's Belarus Offices Amid Election Protests

The black-clad men blocked entrances to Uber and Yandex ’ s office in Minsk with some employees still stuck inside , early reports said and Yandex confirmed .
Armed and masked men raided the Belarus offices of Uber and Russian tech giant Yandex on Thursday as authorities continued to crack down on protesters disputing the country 's presidential election results .
“ Yandex and Uber share one office in Minsk , so the searches are carried out in both companies , ” a Yandex spokesperson told BBC ’ s Russian-language service .
The Russian tech company previously told Forbes Russia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ working from home since the early summer due to the coronavirus pandemic .
Yandex 's press service later told Interfax that the armed men , who identified themselves as members of Belarus ’ security forces , had left without detaining anyone or confiscating any equipment or documents .
The men did n't give a reason for their search , Yandex said .
Belarusian law enforcement officials have not yet confirmed or denied whether their officers were involved in the raid .
Rolling internet blackouts have been reported in Belarus this week , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ networks curtailed amid the crackdown .
Yandex apps including its taxi and map services appeared to be working “ considering how the internet is working in the country as a whole , ” an unnamed source close to Yandex told TASS .
President Alexander Lukashenko has accused foreign powers of stoking the unrest that has resulted in around 7,000 detentions and hundreds of injuries .
Authorities also reported at least two deaths .
Election officials declared Lukashenko , 65 , the winner of his sixth presidential term Sunday with roughly a 70 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tikhanovskaya , a 37-year-old stay-at-home mother who galvanized the opposition , left Belarus for neighboring Lithuania after challenging the election results this week .
Her allies claimed that the authorities forced Tikhanovskaya out of the country in an attempt to quell the protests .
Uber merged operations with Yandex.Taxi in Russia and other post-Soviet countries including Belarus in 2017 .

The black-clad men blocked entrances to Uber and Yandex’s office in Minsk with some employees still stuck inside, early reports said and Yandex confirmed.
Armed and masked men raided the Belarus offices of Uber and Russian tech giant Yandex on Thursday as authorities continued to crack down on protesters disputing the country's presidential election results.
“Yandex and Uber share one office in Minsk, so the searches are carried out in both companies,” a Yandex spokesperson told BBC’s Russian-language service.
The Russian tech company previously told Forbes Russia that most of its staff has been working from home since the early summer due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Yandex's press service later told Interfax that the armed men, who identified themselves as members of Belarus’ security forces, had left without detaining anyone or confiscating any equipment or documents. The men didn't give a reason for their search, Yandex said.
Belarusian law enforcement officials have not yet confirmed or denied whether their officers were involved in the raid.
Rolling internet blackouts have been reported in Belarus this week, with access to search engines and social media networks curtailed amid the crackdown.
Yandex apps including its taxi and map services appeared to be working “considering how the internet is working in the country as a whole,” an unnamed source close to Yandex told TASS.
President Alexander Lukashenko has accused foreign powers of stoking the unrest that has resulted in around 7,000 detentions and hundreds of injuries. Authorities also reported at least two deaths.
Election officials declared Lukashenko, 65, the winner of his sixth presidential term Sunday with roughly a 70% margin over his main challenger. Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, a 37-year-old stay-at-home mother who galvanized the opposition, left Belarus for neighboring Lithuania after challenging the election results this week. Her allies claimed that the authorities forced Tikhanovskaya out of the country in an attempt to quell the protests.
Uber merged operations with Yandex.Taxi in Russia and other post-Soviet countries including Belarus in 2017.


themoscowtimes--2020-08-13--MT’s Coronavirus Coverage Gets U.S. Journalism Nod

The Moscow Times ’ coverage of Russia ’ s student recruitment to help battle the coronavirus following years of healthcare @ @ @ @ @ mention from the American Society of Journalists and Authors ( ASJA ) .
ASJA ’ @ @ @ @ @ award went to the Center for Public Integrity ’ s investigation on healthcare policies on @ @ @ @ @ states that could discriminate against disabled patients .
The Moscow Times ' April 21 report @ @ @ @ @ Healthcare System Faced Cuts for Years .
Now Medical Students Are on the Coronavirus Frontlines @ @ @ @ @ in the healthcare category .

The Moscow Times’ coverage of Russia’s student recruitment to help battle the coronavirus following years of healthcare cuts has received an honorable mention from the American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA).
ASJA’s 2020 healthcare crisis coverage award went to the Center for Public Integrity’s investigation on healthcare policies on rationing ventilators in 25 U.S. states that could discriminate against disabled patients.
The Moscow Times' April 21 report titled “Russia’s Healthcare System Faced Cuts for Years. Now Medical Students Are on the Coronavirus Frontlines” received an honorable mention in the healthcare category.


themoscowtimes--2020-08-13--Russian Region Orders Mass Vaccination Against Bubonic Plague

The order was issued after Mongolia 's health ministry said Wednesday that bubonic plague killed a man in the country @ @ @ @ @ the latest in a handful of cases to emerge there and in neighboring China this @ @ @ @ @ a remote Russian region on Thursday said that herders and other residents of two districts @ @ @ @ @ should be vaccinated against bubonic plague .
The leader of the Siberian region of Tuva @ @ @ @ @ all residents of the region 's two border districts , Ovyursky and Mongun-Taiginsky , should @ @ @ @ @ districts are home to some 14,000 people .
`` The disease is dangerous , '' @ @ @ @ @ a statement calling for everyone over the age of two to be vaccinated and for @ @ @ @ @ vaccine .
Public health officials earlier appealed to residents of the mountainous Tuva and Altai @ @ @ @ @ eat marmots .
Bubonic plague is highly contagious and transmitted between animals and humans through @ @ @ @ @ and contact with infected animals like marmots .

The order was issued after Mongolia's health ministry said Wednesday that bubonic plague killed a man in the country's west. It was the latest in a handful of cases to emerge there and in neighboring China this year.
The head of a remote Russian region on Thursday said that herders and other residents of two districts on the border with Mongolia should be vaccinated against bubonic plague.
The leader of the Siberian region of Tuva, Sholban Kara-ool, said all residents of the region's two border districts, Ovyursky and Mongun-Taiginsky, should be inoculated.
The two districts are home to some 14,000 people.
"The disease is dangerous," the regional leader said in a statement calling for everyone over the age of two to be vaccinated and for a permanent stock of the vaccine.
Public health officials earlier appealed to residents of the mountainous Tuva and Altai regions not to hunt or eat marmots.
Bubonic plague is highly contagious and transmitted between animals and humans through the bite of infected fleas and contact with infected animals like marmots.


themoscowtimes--2020-08-13--Belarus Detains Hundreds More in Post-Election Crackdown

Four nights of unrest since Sunday 's vote have seen thousands arrested , dozens wounded and two people dead as police used stun grenades , tear gas , water cannon and , in at least one case , live fire to disperse protesters .
Police in Belarus said Thursday they had detained hundreds more protesters as demonstrations continued against strongman leader Alexander Lukashenko 's disputed re-election .
Lukashenko 's opponents accuse him of rigging Sunday 's election to defeat his main rival , popular opposition candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya , who left the ex-Soviet country on Tuesday for neighbouring Lithuania .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Alexievich have condemned the violence and urged Lukashenko , who has ruled Belarus with an iron grip since 1994 , to step down .
For the second day in a row on Thursday , dozens of women , many dressed in white and holding flowers , formed a human chain in the capital Minsk to condemn police violence .
The interior ministry said 700 more people had been arrested for taking part in illegal gatherings on Wednesday , bringing the total number detained since Sunday to more than 6,700 .
The ministry said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on previous nights but that `` the level of aggression towards members of law enforcement remains high . ''
It said 103 members of law enforcement had been injured in the unrest since Sunday , with 28 hospitalized .
After large-scale gatherings in Minsk and other cities on Sunday , the protests have become scattered and smaller as police cordoned off city centres and shut down public transport .
On Wednesday evening groups of flag-waving opposition supporters blocked roads in the capital 's suburbs .
Riot police used rubber bullets and stun grenades @ @ @ @ @ @ @ patrolled residential areas , firing at vehicles and grabbing people hiding inside the entrances of blocks of flats , local media reported .
Protesters say police have become increasingly aggressive as demonstrations go on and on Wednesday the interior ministry said its forces had used firearms on a group of protesters armed with metal rods in the southwestern city of Brest .
Officials also confirmed the second death in the unrest , after police said a first protester died on Monday when an explosive device went off in his hand .
The Belarusian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said in a statement that a 25-year-old man died after he was detained on Sunday for taking part in illegal protests in the southeastern city of Gomel and sentenced to 10 days in prison .
Investigators said the cause of death was unclear , though his mother told local media he had heart problems and had been out to see his girlfriend , not to take part in protests .
There have been widespread reports of police using indiscriminate violence against protesters and even passers-by .
In an interview published on Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nobel Literature Prize for her work chronicling life under the Soviet regime , expressed outrage at the `` inhumane , Satanic '' actions of riot police and urged Lukashenko to go peacefully .
`` Leave before it 's too late , before you 've thrown people into a terrible abyss , into the abyss of civil war , '' she told her long-term foe in an interview with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty .
Other prominent Belarusians have joined calls for the violence to end .
Belarus 's four-time Olympic biathlon champion Darya Domracheva @ @ @ @ @ @ @ urging riot police to `` STOP THE VIOLENCE .
Do not allow this unjust horror to continue on the streets . ''
She put out another post calling on `` both sides '' to stay calm .
Several prominent journalists and presenters with state media have also resigned in recent days in protest at events .
Western governments have criticized the violence , with UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet on Wednesday accusing Belarus of deploying `` unnecessary and excessive force . ''
EU foreign ministers are set to discuss Belarus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with some in the bloc calling for the re-imposition of sanctions .
The protests broke out after authorities said Lukashenko won 80 % of the vote in Sunday 's election to secure a sixth term .
Lukashenko , 65 , has dismissed the demonstrators as foreign-controlled `` sheep . ''
On Wednesday , he said they were `` people with a criminal past who are now unemployed '' and told them to get jobs .
The protest movement arose in support of Tikhanovskaya , a 37-year-old political novice who ran for president after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jailed .
The official results gave her 10 % of the vote , but Tikhanovskaya said the election was rigged and claimed victory , demanding that Lukashenko hand over power .
She left for neighboring Lithuania on Tuesday as allies said she came under official pressure .

Four nights of unrest since Sunday's vote have seen thousands arrested, dozens wounded and two people dead as police used stun grenades, tear gas, water cannon and, in at least one case, live fire to disperse protesters.
Police in Belarus said Thursday they had detained hundreds more protesters as demonstrations continued against strongman leader Alexander Lukashenko's disputed re-election.
Lukashenko's opponents accuse him of rigging Sunday's election to defeat his main rival, popular opposition candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, who left the ex-Soviet country on Tuesday for neighbouring Lithuania.
Prominent Belarusians including Nobel Prize-winning author Svetlana Alexievich have condemned the violence and urged Lukashenko, who has ruled Belarus with an iron grip since 1994, to step down.
For the second day in a row on Thursday, dozens of women, many dressed in white and holding flowers, formed a human chain in the capital Minsk to condemn police violence.
The interior ministry said 700 more people had been arrested for taking part in illegal gatherings on Wednesday, bringing the total number detained since Sunday to more than 6,700.
The ministry said there had been fewer demonstrations Wednesday than on previous nights but that "the level of aggression towards members of law enforcement remains high."
It said 103 members of law enforcement had been injured in the unrest since Sunday, with 28 hospitalized.
Second death in unrest
After large-scale gatherings in Minsk and other cities on Sunday, the protests have become scattered and smaller as police cordoned off city centres and shut down public transport.
On Wednesday evening groups of flag-waving opposition supporters blocked roads in the capital's suburbs.
Riot police used rubber bullets and stun grenades to break up protests. They also patrolled residential areas, firing at vehicles and grabbing people hiding inside the entrances of blocks of flats, local media reported.
Protesters say police have become increasingly aggressive as demonstrations go on and on Wednesday the interior ministry said its forces had used firearms on a group of protesters armed with metal rods in the southwestern city of Brest.
Officials also confirmed the second death in the unrest, after police said a first protester died on Monday when an explosive device went off in his hand.
The Belarusian Investigative Committee, which probes major crimes, said in a statement that a 25-year-old man died after he was detained on Sunday for taking part in illegal protests in the southeastern city of Gomel and sentenced to 10 days in prison.
Investigators said the cause of death was unclear, though his mother told local media he had heart problems and had been out to see his girlfriend, not to take part in protests.
There have been widespread reports of police using indiscriminate violence against protesters and even passers-by.
In an interview published on Wednesday, Alexievich, winner of the 2015 Nobel Literature Prize for her work chronicling life under the Soviet regime, expressed outrage at the "inhumane, Satanic" actions of riot police and urged Lukashenko to go peacefully.
"Leave before it's too late, before you've thrown people into a terrible abyss, into the abyss of civil war," she told her long-term foe in an interview with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
'Unnecessary and excessive force'
Other prominent Belarusians have joined calls for the violence to end.
Belarus's four-time Olympic biathlon champion Darya Domracheva posted a call on her Instagram account urging riot police to "STOP THE VIOLENCE. Do not allow this unjust horror to continue on the streets."
She put out another post calling on "both sides" to stay calm.
Several prominent journalists and presenters with state media have also resigned in recent days in protest at events.
Western governments have criticized the violence, with UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet on Wednesday accusing Belarus of deploying "unnecessary and excessive force."
EU foreign ministers are set to discuss Belarus at an extraordinary meeting on Friday, with some in the bloc calling for the re-imposition of sanctions.
The protests broke out after authorities said Lukashenko won 80% of the vote in Sunday's election to secure a sixth term.
Lukashenko, 65, has dismissed the demonstrators as foreign-controlled "sheep." On Wednesday, he said they were "people with a criminal past who are now unemployed" and told them to get jobs.
The protest movement arose in support of Tikhanovskaya, a 37-year-old political novice who ran for president after potential opposition candidates including her husband were jailed.
The official results gave her 10% of the vote, but Tikhanovskaya said the election was rigged and claimed victory, demanding that Lukashenko hand over power.
She left for neighboring Lithuania on Tuesday as allies said she came under official pressure.


themoscowtimes--2020-08-13--Russian YouTuber Arrested for Obtaining State Secrets

A Russian YouTuber famous for exploring abandoned sites was arrested and charged with obtaining state secrets last week , authorities and activists said Wednesday .
Andrei Pyzh has uploaded hundreds of videos showing his visits to industrial sites and abandoned bunkers to his YouTube channel , which has about 800,000 subscribers .
He faces up to eight years in jail if found guilty of illegally obtaining and disseminating state secrets .
A Moscow court ruled Aug. 6 that Pyzh remain in pre-trial custody until October , Reuters cited the court as saying .
It is unclear if Pyzh denies the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lawyer said his client ’ s arrest was not linked to his blogs .
However , news outlets pointed to anonymous comments on the vlogger ’ s past Instagram posts promising “ big trouble ” for gaining access to a functioning radar station that Russia uses for its nuclear strike early warning system .
Friends and family said they have lost contact with Pyzh since Aug. 5 and reports said his court-appointed lawyer did not inform them of his detention either .
“ He was in total isolation without understanding or support , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public monitoring commission told the Podyom Telegram channel .
Pyzh ’ s friends said they tried to keep a lid on news of his detention and arrest coming to light in hopes of making it easier to secure his release through lack of publicity .
Russian authorities have accused or tried a wide range of people , including journalists and scientists , of disclosing state secrets or high treason in recent years .
Critics have called the charges manifestations of the state ’ s paranoia .

A Russian YouTuber famous for exploring abandoned sites was arrested and charged with obtaining state secrets last week, authorities and activists said Wednesday.
Andrei Pyzh has uploaded hundreds of videos showing his visits to industrial sites and abandoned bunkers to his YouTube channel, which has about 800,000 subscribers.
He faces up to eight years in jail if found guilty of illegally obtaining and disseminating state secrets.
A Moscow court ruled Aug. 6 that Pyzh remain in pre-trial custody until October, Reuters cited the court as saying.
It is unclear if Pyzh denies the charges against him.
Pyzh’s lawyer said his client’s arrest was not linked to his blogs. However, news outlets pointed to anonymous comments on the vlogger’s past Instagram posts promising “big trouble” for gaining access to a functioning radar station that Russia uses for its nuclear strike early warning system.
Friends and family said they have lost contact with Pyzh since Aug. 5 and reports said his court-appointed lawyer did not inform them of his detention either.
“He was in total isolation without understanding or support,” a member of Moscow’s public monitoring commission told the Podyom Telegram channel.
Pyzh’s friends said they tried to keep a lid on news of his detention and arrest coming to light in hopes of making it easier to secure his release through lack of publicity.
Russian authorities have accused or tried a wide range of people, including journalists and scientists, of disclosing state secrets or high treason in recent years. Critics have called the charges manifestations of the state’s paranoia.


themoscowtimes--2020-08-13--Duterte to Skip Philippine Trial of Russia Virus Vaccine

Duterte had offered himself up as a guinea pig for the very first jab , expressing `` huge trust '' in the vaccine , despite growing skepticism about its effectiveness .
The Philippines will begin large-scale human testing of Russia 's coronavirus vaccine in October , but President Rodrigo Duterte will not receive the inoculation until regulators guarantee its safety , his spokesman said Thursday .
But his spokesman Harry Roque said the president was scheduled to receive the vaccine no earlier than May 1 — weeks after the Russian-funded Phase 3 clinical trial in the archipelago is due to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Food and Drug Administration is expected to approve the vaccine — developed by the Gamaleya research institute and the Russian Defense Ministry — in April .
`` May 1 is when the PSG ( presidential security group ) may allow him , once all requisite tests have been finished , '' Roque told reporters .
Moscow says it has developed the world 's first vaccine offering `` sustainable immunity '' against the coronavirus and is in the final stage of tests involving 2,000 people .
Roque said Philippine experts will review next month @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and 2 clinical trials before the Southeast Asian country starts its Phase 3 testing .
`` We will do it simultaneously with Russia , '' Roque said .
Philippine officials from the science and technology department met with Gamaleya on Wednesday to discuss the protocols for the trial of the vaccine , which is dubbed `` Sputnik V '' after the pioneering Soviet satellite of the 1950s .
The Philippines , which is struggling to contain the virus , has accepted Russia 's offer to participate in production of the vaccine .
Anna @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the University of the Philippines College of Medicine , said the government 's timeline to have a vaccine available by May was `` very optimistic . ''
The country is also set to start on Aug. 17 clinical trials for the Japanese antiviral drug Avigan to treat coronavirus patients .
The Philippines has logged the highest number of confirmed infections in Southeast Asia with more than 147,500 cases and over 2,400 deaths .

Duterte had offered himself up as a guinea pig for the very first jab, expressing "huge trust" in the vaccine, despite growing skepticism about its effectiveness.
The Philippines will begin large-scale human testing of Russia's coronavirus vaccine in October, but President Rodrigo Duterte will not receive the inoculation until regulators guarantee its safety, his spokesman said Thursday.
But his spokesman Harry Roque said the president was scheduled to receive the vaccine no earlier than May 1 — weeks after the Russian-funded Phase 3 clinical trial in the archipelago is due to end in March.
The country's Food and Drug Administration is expected to approve the vaccine — developed by the Gamaleya research institute and the Russian Defense Ministry — in April.
"May 1 is when the PSG (presidential security group) may allow him, once all requisite tests have been finished," Roque told reporters.
Moscow says it has developed the world's first vaccine offering "sustainable immunity" against the coronavirus and is in the final stage of tests involving 2,000 people.
Roque said Philippine experts will review next month the results of Russia's Phase 1 and 2 clinical trials before the Southeast Asian country starts its Phase 3 testing.
"We will do it simultaneously with Russia," Roque said.
Philippine officials from the science and technology department met with Gamaleya on Wednesday to discuss the protocols for the trial of the vaccine, which is dubbed "Sputnik V" after the pioneering Soviet satellite of the 1950s.
The Philippines, which is struggling to contain the virus, has accepted Russia's offer to participate in production of the vaccine.
Anna Lisa Ong-Lim, an infectious disease professor at the University of the Philippines College of Medicine, said the government's timeline to have a vaccine available by May was "very optimistic."
The country is also set to start on Aug. 17 clinical trials for the Japanese antiviral drug Avigan to treat coronavirus patients.
The Philippines has logged the highest number of confirmed infections in Southeast Asia with more than 147,500 cases and over 2,400 deaths.


themoscowtimes--2020-08-13--Russia's Coronavirus Cases Continue Rise Past 900K

The highest number of new cases were in Moscow and Sverdlovsk in the Urals .
Russia 's fatality rate has @ @ @ @ @ badly-hit countries , raising speculation that Moscow could be underreporting figures .
Russian authorities began @ @ @ @ @ ahead of a massive World War II military parade in Moscow and a nationwide vote @ @ @ @ @ allow President Vladimir Putin to stay in power until 2036 .
Both events were initially @ @ @ @ @ Moscow opened cinemas and theaters on Aug. 1 .
In the capital , masks are @ @ @ @ @ public transport but not in the streets .
Several institutes in Russia are working on @ @ @ @ @ Russian Defense Ministry has said it developed a `` safe '' vaccine following clinical trials @ @ @ @ @ .
The trials are ongoing , and the Defense Ministry expects clinical trials to be @ @ @ @ @ weeks .

The highest number of new cases were in Moscow and St. Petersburg.
Russia's fatality rate has remained low compared to other badly-hit countries, raising speculation that Moscow could be underreporting figures.
Russian authorities began easing anti-virus measures in June ahead of a massive World War II military parade in Moscow and a nationwide vote on constitutional reforms that now allow President Vladimir Putin to stay in power until 2036.
Both events were initially postponed due the epidemic.
Moscow opened cinemas and theaters on Aug. 1. In the capital, masks are mandatory in stores and on public transport but not in the streets.
Several institutes in Russia are working on a coronavirus vaccine.
The Russian Defense Ministry has said it developed a "safe" vaccine following clinical trials on a group of volunteers.
The trials are ongoing, and the Defense Ministry expects clinical trials to be fully completed in the coming weeks.
AFP contributed reporting to this article.